EU Energy Council debates Clean Energy package and State of the Energy Union

The European Energy Council, which brings together EU Energy Ministers, European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, and European Commissioner for energy and climate action Miguel Arias Cañete, will meet in Brussels today. Two main items are on the agenda: the Commission’s ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ package and its second State of the Energy Union report.

At the Council meeting, EU energy ministers will discuss the Commission’s ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ package of measures, which was released on 30 November 2016. The measures aim to ensure that Europe leads the world’s transition to clean energy: they focus on putting energy efficiency first, achieving global leadership in renewable energies, and providing a fair deal for consumers. This will be energy ministers’ first opportunity to exchange views on the package. Commissioner Arias Cañete will also stress how important it is for the Commission, Council and European Parliament to work together and agree on the text of the proposed legislation on clean energy by the end of 2017. This is in accordance with the Joint Declaration of 13 December 2016 on the EU’s legislative priorities for 2017. This part of the meeting (scheduled to run from 10.35 to 13.00 CET) will be a public debate that can be followed via a livestream.

During the meeting, Vice-President Šefčovič will also give a presentation on the second State of the Energy Union report. This was published on 1 February 2017 and tracks the progress made since the EU adopted its Energy Union strategy in February 2015. The report shows European countries and the EU as a whole are making good progress towards the Energy Union’s objectives, although further efforts are still required. Vice-President Šefčovič will also emphasise the importance of communicating about the Energy Union to EU citizens. To achieve this, he will visit many EU countries as part of his continuing Energy Union Tour in 2017.

A number of other topics will also be discussed at the Energy Council, including security of gas supply and the Ocean Energy Forum. The meeting will conclude with a press conference scheduled for 15.45 CET, which can be watched via a livestream here.

Clean Energy for All Europeans package

Energy Union

Second State of the Energy Union report

Joint Declaration on the EU’s legislative priorities for 2017

Source: European Commission – Energy News
EU Energy Council debates Clean Energy package and State of the Energy Union