In an internal document drawn up last July and obtained by Agence Europe, the European Commission’s DG Energy takes stock of the energy measures adopted during the previous term and sets out the priorities and deadlines for the next five years, in greater detail than in the mission letter of and responses from the Commissioner-designate for Energy, Dan Jørgensen (see EUROPE 13518/5).
Governance Regulation. The Commission has clearly indicated its intention to revise the regulation (see EUROPE 13480/2) to bring it into line with the new energy and climate priorities.
The initiative should therefore be presented in a communication on the future energy policy strategy, which is expected to be adopted during the first 100 days of the mandate.
The proposal could form part of the simplification and implementation package of the ‘European Green Deal’ expected in the second half of 2026.
Renewable energy. The Commission also points out that a number of delegated acts and implementing acts linked to the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) need to be developed or reviewed during the term of office, in particular the revision of the delegated act on ‘RFNBOs’ (renewable fuels of non-biological origin) scheduled for 2028.
The Commission will also be tasked with working on a “simple and effective” legislative framework for the EU policy on renewable energy for the period post-2030.
Heating. With regard to promoting the electrification and integration of the “end-use” sectors into the energy system, the Commission stresses the integration of heating and cooling into the energy system, not ruling out the possibility of presenting “a possible heating and cooling strategy”.
Energy efficiency. The document points out that the Energy Efficiency Directive, adopted in 2023, will have to be transposed by October 2025. An evaluation is then scheduled by 28 February 2027. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive will be evaluated by 31 December 2028. The Commission could also extend the demand aggregation mechanism to energy efficiency services/markets, notably as part of the ‘Clean Industrial Deal’.
Hydrogen and nuclear power. The Commission then reiterates its support for the development of hydrogen, indicating in particular that, under the ‘hydrogen mechanism’ that it wishes to activate by mid-2025, a section will be devoted to aggregating demand (see EUROPE 13410/24).
On the nuclear front, during its first 100 days, the Commission will review the Nuclear Illustrative Programme (PINC), including an assessment of total costs and investment needs. Among other things, it will present a strategy for fusion.
Energy networks and markets. With regard to the development of networks and infrastructure projects, the Commission will be partly responsible for completing the current list of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) (see EUROPE 13387/10) and adopting the second list in November 2025.
An evaluation of the TEN-E framework for planning cross-border energy infrastructures is expected by 2027.
As a follow-up to the legal obligation in the Electricity Market Reform Directive, the next Commission could launch a “broad policy reflection”, possibly in the form of a Commission ‘White Paper’ to be published in 2025, to inform a possible European reform towards a fully integrated internal market for electricity.
In addition, DG ENER could work on a review of energy taxation rules in collaboration with DG TAXUD.
Security. With regard to security of supply, the Commission is expected to introduce a modernised energy security architecture by the first quarter of 2025 as part of a “Genuine Energy Union Strategy”.
By the end of 2025/beginning of 2026, it is also expected to propose a legislative revision of the “Energy security framework”, notably through revision of the gas security of supply regulations.
The Commission is also ready to engage “more strongly to diversify” uranium conversion and enrichment services and the supply of critical spare parts, and to examine the possibility of an import duty on nuclear fuels of Russian origin.
For Russian gas, it is also prepared to “consider the usefulness” of a potential import duty or a price cap.
To see the document: https://aeur.eu/f/ehm (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)