The informal meeting of energy ministers on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 September is largely in line with the desire of the Danish Presidency of the EU Council to push ahead with initiatives to enhance energy security, in particular by phasing out Russian oil and gas.
Talks are continuing at technical level at the EU Council to adopt an orientation on the European Commission’s legislative proposal to abandon Russian gas contracts (see EUROPE 13699/5).
Before European energy ministers reach the hoped-for agreement at their sectoral Council meeting on 20 October, they are meeting informally in Copenhagen to discuss, among other things, post-2030 policy objectives and the development of the EU’s energy infrastructure.
Post-2030 legislative framework. The first working session of the day, held on Friday 5 September, is aimed specifically at discussing the future design of the European energy system and the legislative framework beyond 2030.
In a working document seen by Agence Europe, the Danish Presidency of the EU Council is inviting ministers to consider how the EU’s future legislative architecture – “including governance”, can support long-term ambition “while simplifying implementation and reinforcing delivery”.
It emphasises, among other things, the need to build a genuine Energy Union enabling “fluid cross-border energy flows and an integrated energy system without bottlenecks (...)”.
In addition, it will challenge participants over the ways in which long-term predictability for investors can be provided, while continuing to adapt and improve legislative frameworks in response to a changing global context.
Challenges of digitalisation and artificial intelligence. The working lunch will be devoted to the challenges of digitalisation and artificial intelligence, and specifically to increasing data centre capacity in the EU, something that has an impact on energy consumption.
The European Commission has announced the publication of a ‘roadmap’ for digitalisation and AI in the energy sector by 2026. The Danish Presidency will therefore be asking participants what the main priorities should be.
At this lunch, representatives from Google and Eurelectric will start off the discussion.
Challenges of developing energy infrastructure. The second working session will focus in particular on the joint priorities that should feature in the future European network package (see EUROPE 13664/10). The discussion will be organised in working groups in order to address the “dilemmas” highlighted by the Presidency, before being discussed in plenary session.
These dilemmas relate, for example, to effective licensing procedures in the face of environmental challenges, or coordinated planning versus project-based planning.
A speech will also be given by the Director of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), Christian Zinglersen.
Friday’s discussion sessions will follow on from a visit to the Avedøre cogeneration plant, planned to take place the day before, on Thursday. The European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, will give a speech aimed at initiating “tripartite contracts for affordable energy for Europe’s industry”, as presented in the European Commission’s action plan for affordable energy prices (see EUROPE 13588/3). (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)