Brussels, 04/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday the Energy Council should reach a political on the Directive aiming to promote the production of electricity from renewable energy sources (RES). The main points in limbo seem to have been resolved on Friday during the meeting of European Permanent Representatives (COREPER).
The draft Directive, proposed in May by the European Commission (see EUROPE of 11 May, p.9 and 10 May, p.9), foresees a four point strategy, to double the share of renewable energy sources in electricity consumption within ten years: 1) the set national objectives indicative of "green" electricity consumption, 2) control the support systems in favour of "green" electricity producers and present, in five years, a report enabling to introduce a harmonised support system at the Community level, 3) make obligatory a certification of origin system recognised in all the Member States, 4) put in place accompanying measures enabling to set priorities for "green" electricity while respecting competition rules.
The main divergence within the Council over national aims, which five or six Member States consider too ambitious. Italy wants, for example, to set the target at 19% of electricity production through renewable energy source by 2010 (against 25% proposed by the Commission), the Netherlands 8% instead of 12%, Portugal 33% instead of 45%, Finland 31% instead of 35%. A compromise on these national objectives seems to have been reached.
The Member States also had divergences over the transition period that the Commission should propose to put in place a Community State aid regime in favour of renewable energies. The Council seems to be moving towards a 11 year period, while Germany notably would have favoured a longer transition enabling to allow for the development of renewable energies. Italy wants a faster harmonisation of aid systems.
Thus on this basis, the Council wants to base the future Directive on Article 175.1, that is to say on environmental policy, which implies a more limited harmonisation, while the Commission is proposing to base itself on the stricter rules of the internal market (Article 95).