The European Commission and key stakeholders outlined their views on the Energy Union in a conference on energy policy and competitiveness on 17 November. Commissioner Maros Šefčovič, Vice President for Energy Union, confirmed in his speech that the Energy Union should rest on five pillars. He also emphasised the importance of a more holistic approach to energy across policy areas: energy, climate, transport, industry, research, digital economy, agriculture.
According to Mr Šefčovič, the Energy Union should be built on five pillars. The first pillar would be built around “security, solidarity and trust”, with energy diplomacy and policy coordination within EU as the cornerstones of this pillar. The EC would explore the controversial common purchasing of gas within the scope that the competition and WTO rules allow, he said in this context. The second pillar would be dedicated to the completion of a competitive internal market. Mr Šefčovič confirmed that the new Commission will present within the next three months an ambitious investment package, of which energy (mainly energy networks, renewable energy and energy efficiency) will be a main component. Moderation of demand and the decarbonisation of the EU energy mix would be the third and fourth pillars respectively. Mr Šefčovič emphasised in particular the cooperation with Energy and Climate Commissioner Arias Cañete on the new governance system. The fifth pillar focuses on technologies and innovation.
EURELECTRIC Secretary General Hans ten Berge highlighted association’s priorities and policy requirements for the power system of tomorrow: a European, integrated approach to the entire power system, an affordable energy transition, electricity as a major contribution to decarbonisation, active and empowered customers, and a market design and regulatory conditions that enable investments. EURELECTRIC has already expressed our views on the Energy Union in a letter to Mr Šefčovič and will continue to work on this topic.
Hans ten Berge and Eurogas Deputy Secretary General Margot Loudon considered well-functioning energy markets as a key requirement for energy security. Markets were also considered crucial by Jerzy Buzek, Chair of the Parliament’s ITRE Committee, who said that all legislation on markets is on the table, and the EU needs to move towards implementation. MEP Claude Turmes called for swift development of the intraday market and a market design that is fit for solar and wind power. Regarding the 2030 package, Mr Buzek considered it important to align the European policies and ambitions with the outcome of the 2015 Paris climate conference.
IEA Deputy Head Laura Cozzi reminded the audience about the global fuel market trends affecting Europe: if the US decides to use gas mainly in the domestic market when demand goes up due to the Emission Performance Standards for energy production, that will have implications to the global market. In her view there was too much talk about electricity taking into account that gas is used mainly in the building sector and there is a lot of potential to increase the energy efficiency of transport.
The closing speech of the conference was given by Commissioner Arias Cañete, focusing on energy security and the planned investment package. The Commissioner promised that the Commission would issue a strategy paper setting out details on the Energy Union during the first quarter of 2015. This paper will present key actions to be undertaken during the next two years.