Security of supply, transformation of European energy systems and investment in the transition are the three priorities of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, according to Céline Gauer, its Director-General since June 2026. She was invited to address the MEPs of the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), on Tuesday 14 July.
Energy transition. During her presentation, she placed emphasis on the electrification plan, which will be presented on Friday 17 July and supplemented “by tax proposals”.
Céline Gauer also mentioned the post-2030 energy framework, which aims to align Regulation (2018/1999) on the governance of the Energy Union, the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) and Directive (2023/1791) on energy efficiency with the EU’s 2040 climate targets (90% reduction in emissions compared with 1990).
The Commission is currently finalising the impact assessment on this post-2030 framework.
Questioned by MEP Christian Ehler (EPP, German), Céline Gauer said that the Commission would present a revision of the delegated act on hydrogen (2025/2359) and a strategy on hydrogen, which could be adopted by the end of the year.
Energy security. She also announced that the Commission will present this autumn “legislative proposals aimed at consolidating security of supply, improving the security of electricity, gas and oil systems and ensuring that we prepare and manufacture better-performing equipment for the future”.
Investments. “Investment needs are estimated at between €600 billion and €700 billion for the next decade, and we know that these funds will have to be mobilised from both public and private sources”, she said. In this respect, she mentioned the Clean Energy Investment Strategy presented by the Commission on 10 March this year (see EUROPE 13825/1).
Flexibility. As Dan Jørgensen, the European Commissioner for Energy, announced on Friday 26 June (see EUROPE 13897/2), the European Commission will present – perhaps next week – additional recommendations for the implementation of the Methane Regulation, Céline Gauer confirmed. One will concern how companies may demonstrate their compliance with the legislation; the other, intended for the Member States, will advise them not to apply sanctions for a given period “in order to avoid any risk of disruption”. (Original version in French by Nadège Delépine)