The European Commission today announced its work programme for 2010, with
further information regarding its intentions for 2011. It is evident that energy
and climate change remains two of the Commission's very highest priorities for
the coming years, and that there will be many new concrete proposals and new
initiatives.
A. Energy
Firstly, it is worth noting
that at the European Council on 26/27 March, the Heads of State identified
energy as one of the EU's priorities over the coming years, and that it would be
a central part of the Europe 2020 initiative. The European Council explicitly
concluded that "In early 2011 it will discuss energy policy, including how it
can best support the shift towards an efficient low-carbon economy and security
of supply".
The Commission's new work programme reflects this priority,
and commits to an important number of proposals to prepare for the Council and
beyond.
1. First of all, the Commission includes as a Strategic
Initiative, to be completed by the end of 2010, an
"Energy Infrastructure
Package", which will incorporate:
· a Communication on Energy Infrastructure Development and
financing for the 2020/30 horizon,
· a Commission staff working paper on energy infrastructure,
· a Communication on the preparation of a blue print for offshore
grids in the Northern Seas of Europe, and
· a Report on the state of play of smart
grids.
The Communication will focus on investment needs, based on supply
and demand scenarios, the 10-year network plans of the European Network of
Transmission System Operators (ENTSO) and on priorities for infrastructure
development and funding.
Furthermore, it will look at measures aiming at
diversifying gas supply sources and routes as well as at future infrastructure
needs, e.g. for oil or CO2.
The staff working paper will evaluate the
six-priority infrastructure actions announced in the 2nd Strategic Energy
Review, including Mediterranean gas and electricity interconnection. The
Communication on offshore grids will present a vision for 2020 and 2030 as well
as identify key regulatory issues to address in order to enable more integrated
grid solutions to be developed in the longer term. The report on smart grids
will present developments in this field leading to a possible legislative
proposal in 2011.
In addition, in 2010 and 2011, the Commission announces
the following initiatives:
2. Proposal on
transparency and
integrity of wholesale market trading, which will address the transparency
and integrity of European traded energy markets, establishing "proper market
conduct rules and a regulatory framework for monitoring and surveillance of
these markets", covering at minimum electricity and gas and potentially carbon
trading.
3. A revised
Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which
will identify the key measures to achieve the 20% by 2020 target accepted by the
Member States, most notably in the building, utility and transport sectors. It
may be accompanied where appropriate by legislative proposals, e.g. a possible
recast of the energy services directive. In addition, the Commission announces
its intention to work on a revision of the energy taxation directive in order to
tax energy products on their energy content and their carbon emission
level.
4. Energy Action Plan 2011-2020, in which the Commission
will provide a "holistic strategy document" laying out the priority action
points for 2011-2020, followed by a
Roadmap for low carbon energy system by
2050. The latter communication will identify the required steps to attain
the ambition of a low carbon energy system by 2050. It will be preceded by an
interim document which will frame the issues at stake.
5.
Communication on Regional Initiatives, which has the objective of guiding Member
States, Regulators and stakeholders on the Regional Initiatives. It will propose
how to further achieve progress within the Regional Initiatives, as a stepping
stone towards the internal energy market and make proposals as to the best
practices of the Regional Initiatives.
6. Legislative proposal for
a
regulatory framework on smart grids, which will address the various
issues linked with the establishment of smart grids, incl. data protection,
electric vehicles and open access to the grids
7. Communication on
implementing the biofuel sustainability scheme, which will guide Member
States and economic operators on how to implement the sustainability criteria.
It will also endorse 'voluntary schemes' and update/add 'default values' related
to the sustainability scheme.
8. Proposal revising the
nuclear
waste directive, which will establish a common European framework aiming at
achieving and maintaining a high level of safe management of radioactive waste
and spent fuel throughout the Union. Update of the Nuclear Illustrative
Programme (PINC), reviewing the latest situation regarding MS policies, nuclear
investment decisions and requirements, and discussing capacity issues and the
contribution of nuclear for decarbonising electricity generation and the energy
mix. Communication on nuclear medicine and radioisotopes, which will address
medical use of ionizing radiation and the available EU and international
instruments.
B. Climate change
In terms of the
climate change agenda, the Commission proposes a number of measures
including:
- Possible Commission initiative to step up beyond 20% (20 to
30%)
reduction in greenhouse gases, with a possible initiative to reach
emission reduction target beyond 20%.
-
Communication on a roadmap for
low-carbon economy by 2050, also with a view to determining the necessary
scenarios for 2030. This will develop an analysis of milestones on the pathway
to 2050, including the necessary scenarios of the ambition level for 2030
reflecting the contributions from key emitting sectors.
-
Communication on the analysis of practical policies required to implement a 30%
EU emission reduction and assessment of situation of Energy Intensive
Industries, with the aim of carrying out an analysis of the measures needed
to step beyond 20% emission reduction by 2020, in view of decarbonisation
objectives for 2050. This is intended to include an assessment of the situation
of energy intensive industries at risk of carbon leakage.
-
Communication on Mainstreaming Climate Adaptation and Mitigation in EU policies
and climate proofing of financial instruments, including a strategy and
concrete actions to mainstream climate adaptation and mitigation in other EU
policies and financial instruments. This includes in particular climate proofing
of policies such as agriculture and rural development, industry and services,
energy, transport, research and innovation, health, water, marine and fisheries,
ecosystems and biodiversity.
For more details and the text of the work
programme please click here.