Energy security for the European Union, but also for Ukraine, was high on the agenda of the tenth EU-US Energy Council (see EUROPE 13155/3), held in Brussels on Tuesday 4 April. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the US has become a key partner for the EU’s security of supply and green transition.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU was the main destination for US LNG exports in 2022, accounting for over 52% of supplies.
“The past year has been marked by the atrocious war against Ukraine and the unprecedented coordination between the European Union and the United States to support a country and ensure energy security in Europe”, said the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, before the Energy Council meeting.
The Council’s discussions focused on the future in order to further reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian gas and accelerate the green energy transition, but also to reduce methane emissions.
“We share a commitment to averting climate catastrophe, accelerating the global clean energy transition, building resilience and securing and diversifying supply chains for renewable energy”, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, alongside his European counterpart. “We want to do it in such a way that it can create well-paid jobs and generate fewer costs for people on both sides of the Atlantic”, he added.
Also present at the meeting were Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, US Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk and EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson.
The latter reported on the achievements of the past year in moving away from dependence on Russian gas (see EUROPE 13138/8) and spoke about nuclear safety in Ukraine. “We are constantly on the verge of a catastrophic radiological incident. It is essential to increase pressure on Russia to demilitarise the Zaporizhzhia plant and not to take ill-considered measures”.
After the meeting, the Commissioner met with David Turk to sign a methane metrology agreement, in line with the ‘Global Methane Pledge’ (see EUROPE 12809/8). While the US Deputy Secretary of State welcomes the existing political commitment to tackle methane emissions, he highlights that efforts in this area are insufficient: “Emissions for 2022 have increased worldwide and are only slightly lower than in 2019. Although there are cost-effective technologies to reduce them, we are not doing enough”.
The partners also discussed the role that nuclear energy can play in decarbonising countries that choose to rely on it, and called for more joint work to make energy efficiency a global priority.
To see the joint statement: https://aeur.eu/f/66b (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)