Brussels, 20/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - Following adaptation of the European Commission's “energy and climate package” on 23 January (EUROPE 9586), the commissioner for regional policy, Danuta Hübner explained to the press on February 20 how Cohesion policy for 2007-2013 would contribute to developing renewable energy and improving energy efficiency in the EU's regions. Investment would be higher for the period mentioned and the role of the regions as key players would increase because they are better placed for quickly responding to current technological challenges. Ms Hübner noted that many regions were pioneers in the matter, particularly remote regions.
Between 2007-13, the Commission will be investing up to €9bn in energy projects: € 4.8 billion for renewable energies, and € 4.2 billion for energy efficiency and energy management measures (especially housing), pointed out the commissioner. 54% of the total amount will be invested with 20% going on biomass, 12% in solar energy, 13% on geothermic, hydroelectric and others and 9% in wind power. 46% of the remainder will be invested in energy efficiency. This means that for the convergence plan regions, 5 times as much will be invested between 2007-13 than is currently the case. Competitiveness regions will have 7 times more investment, the commissioner explained. €63.8 billion will go to support Research and Development, a large part of which will help renewable energy research projects. Ms Hübner stated: “We have some very good examples throughout Europe of productive projects that have been up and running for some time in most of the 27 member states of the EU and we decided to resume those on energy efficiency and renewable energies”. Hübner pointed out that on 25 February, certain projects will be awarded the RegioStars prize for 2008 during the Commission's annual conference on regional actors for economic change (EUROPE 9605). She also cited cases that could be used as examples for other regions: France's commitment to a "low carbon economy"; Italy's determination to develop new energy solutions; Samsø island (Denmark) - pioneer in energy self-efficiency, the “energy 4 cohesion projects” regional network etc.
In reply to the question of whether her services were able to identify the next programming period and the impact of all this data on growth and employment, the commissioner explained: “There is a serious impact on growth and jobs”. She highlighted the “considerable level effect” from additional investment, “we're talking about €10bn, the double of what we've got!” In Poland, the challenge is the fact that “electricity is 90% dependent on coal”. The commissioner explained that she had decided to, “inject more than €1bn into renewable energies and the energy efficiency, most of which will go to biomass and wind energy”. Ms Hübner pointed out that these were new investments for some member states and she hoped that “in the next few years, this level effect would be increased”.
The commissioner also explained that by visiting the regions she had observed that the European contribution was higher and “went from 10% to 15% what the regions have in their hands”. Out of €63.8bn invested over 7 years in R&D, a large chunk would go to energy. The commissioner insisted that the role of the level effect was therefore very important.
In reply to the question of whether the Commission had calculated the impact of CO2 and whether it would introduce it into the criteria of future assessments, Hübner declared that the “€9bn progress is just the lowering for CO2. In the future, investment will certainly have to be reviewed. A more systematic approach is needed”. How would this subject influence the next budget? “It's a new priority that will require more investment at a national level and changes to the investment approaches. But I don't know how this will influence the budget”. How should the challenge be tackled? “By sectoral policies and working in a more modern way, an integrated approach. We cannot tackle CO2 if we do not invest in sustainable transport policies”, underlined the commissioner.
On the theme of the RegioStars awards, Hübner explained that 70 projects had been presented by the regions and 26 had been shortlisted. Only five countries would get the prize in 2008: United Kingdom, Greece, Germany, Portugal and France. (G.B.)