Meeting for a second day of discussions in Valladolid on Wednesday 12 July, Europe’s energy ministers discussed how to guarantee security in the energy sector within the new perspective of open strategic autonomy and European sovereignty, as well as the challenges of achieving an integrated and digitised internal energy market as we emerge from the energy crisis.
“Last year, in July, we were discussing how we could reduce gas demand in Europe by 15% (...) and today, in Valladolid, we have discussed the future of our energy system”, declared European Commissioner Kadri Simson at the end of the informal meeting.
“Europe is moving from responding to the energy crisis to its programme for decarbonisation (‘net-zero’), and this change of direction is excellent news in itself”, she added.
The Spanish Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, referred to the legislative proposals underway to decarbonise industry and promote Europe’s strategic autonomy (see EUROPE 13185/3, 13213/8).
“From an economic point of view, we know that actions such as those currently being discussed, like achieving a zero-emission industry or guaranteeing access to critical raw materials, are crucial to the success of this transformation”.
She also stressed the importance of promoting interconnections between EU countries. “No Member State should hold back the need for a secure system for the whole of Europe. Interconnections are crucial to decarbonising in the most efficient way possible (...). The European Commission and the vast majority of Member States are very clear on this point”. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)