In Strasbourg on Thursday 21 October, the European Parliament stressed that State aid in the field of climate, environmental protection and energy “is an essential medium-term tool for tackling soaring energy prices, in particular by supporting energy efficiency measures and sustainable renewable energy sources”.
In adopting (415 votes in favour, 220 against and 51 abstentions) a joint resolution (EPP, S&D and Renew Europe) on the draft guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy, MEPs say that the aim of the guidelines is to clarify how Member States can encourage the early withdrawal of coal, peat and oil shale activities.
However, the European Parliament considers that this category of aid should be significantly improved, in particular by: - clear guarantees in the context of the phasing out of fossil fuels (mandatory closure dates, end date of the closure aid scheme, and/or phasing out of the aid); - an overall impact analysis and comparisons with alternative energy efficiency solutions.
Furthermore, the European Parliament is concerned that the category of aid for ‘improving the energy and environmental performance of buildings’ in the draft guidelines lacks ambition. The Commission is asked to raise the requirement to reduce primary energy demand in buildings by at least 40%, the minimum level necessary to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 in the building sector.
In adopting an amendment by the EPP group, the European Parliament points out that, in view of technological developments, State aid rules need to be accompanied by “ a degree of flexibility”.
Finally, it calls on the Commission to increase the number of sectors eligible for aid in the form of electricity tax reductions for large energy consumers. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)