European green paper on energy
European green paper on energy
Plans for a first-ever common EU energy policy envisage major efforts in energy efficiency, renewables, and carbon capture and storage, according to a new green paper published by the European Commission. The policy aims to reduce environmental impact, boost industrial competitiveness and enhance security of supply.
In the Commission’s vision for the new policy, member states would retain sovereignty over which energy sources to use. But because these choices“have an impact on the energy security of their neighbours and on competitiveness and the environment,” an annual “strategic EU energy review” would give a “clear European framework for national decisions on the energy mix”.
The first review would be presented before the 2007 Spring Council and would set out the “knock-on effects” of national energy choices for the EU as whole. One consequence would be a “transparent and objective debate”on the future of nuclear energy, the Commission says.
In a related development, the Commission suggests setting up an “energy supply observatory” and a stronger commitment to cross-border network interconnections to eliminate energy “islands” such as Baltic states. It foresees an EU energy regulator overseeing an EU electricity grid and the creation of a wider European “regulatory space” in which non-EU countries would adopt common energy trade, transit and environmental rules.
The Commission says the new policy must “make major steps forward in developing competitive renewable sources of energy and other low carbon sources”. It should also “curb energy demand” and “lead global efforts to halt climate change and improve local air quality”.
The EU needs a “real leap forward” on energy efficiency to become“the world’s most energy-efficient region” the Commission says. Details will be set out in an energy efficiency action plan later this year on the basis of last year’s green paper, which estimated that the EU could slash its energy consumption by 20 per cent. Among likely elements of the plan are an EU-wide scheme of tradable white certificates and “more focus”on energy rating and labelling of appliances, vehicles and industrial equipment. But there is no mention of the recently adopted energy-using products (EuP)framework directive, under which the commission is supposed to propose product ecodesign and energy standards.
Other initiatives include a “long-term energy efficiency campaign”with an emphasis on public buildings, plus financial and other mechanisms to stimulate investment in efficiency projects. The EU should also “propose and promote” an international agreement on energy efficiency that would expand the energy star eco-label scheme.
On renewables, the paper acknowledges that existing non-binding EU targets for a share in overall energy and electricity consumption are unlikely to be met. But the EU will need to “meet and indeed go beyond” these targets to achieve the new policy’s aims. Fresh targets and measures will be proposed in a “renewable energy road map” before the 2007 Spring Council of EU Heads of Government.
