Energy Policy in the EU

Latest news on the energy policy of the European Union.

Final approval for EU's one-size-fits-all charging port — 26 October 2022, 18:26 CET

A USB-C port will become mandatory in 2024 for electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets and headphones, following final approval by EU ministers Tuesday of the common charger directive.

EU sets stricter rules for energy performance of buildings — 26 October 2022, 18:26 CET

The EU Council reached agreement Tuesday to ensure all new buildings will be zero-emission buildings by 2030 and existing buildings transformed into zero-emission buildings by 2050.

SMEs require targeted measures to survive energy crisis — 19 October 2022, 22:41 CET

SMEunited calls on all EU Member States to immediately act and implement targeted measures for SMEs that need help during the energy crisis. The emergency regulation already provides the necessary instruments. Furthermore, SMEs ask for a swift prolongation and extension of the State aid crisis framework.

E-mobility: European Parliament infrastructure vote is step in right direction, auto makers say — 19 October 2022, 14:41 CET

The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) welcomes the European Parliament vote on the EU-wide roll-out of the charging and refuelling infrastructure needed to power zero-emission cars, vans, trucks and buses.

EU looks to enable joint purchasing of gas — 18 October 2022, 18:28 CET

The European Commission made additional proposals to fight high energy prices Tuesday and ensure security of supply, with a new emergency regulation to enable joint gas purchasing.

Electric cars: 6 EU countries have less than 1 charger per 100km of road; 1 charger in 7 is fast — 13 October 2022, 22:26 CET

Not only is there an insufficient number of electric charging points along the road networks in most EU countries, but the vast majority of these do not charge quickly enough, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

EU adopts emergency measures to reduce energy prices — 06 October 2022, 23:37 CET

EU states formally adopted a regulation Thursday on an emergency intervention introducing common measures to reduce electricity demand and redistribute the energy sector's surplus revenues.

Emergency call: mitigate energy price rises for SMEs — 28 September 2022, 22:28 CET

SMEunited urges EU Energy Ministers to adopt the measures proposed by the European Commission to tackle high energy prices at their meeting on Friday. In addition, the Commission should come forward with the reviewed State aid crisis framework as soon as possible allowing Member States to implement price-cutting measures for SMEs.

State of the SME Union - shape Europe for SMEs — 14 September 2022, 23:35 CET

SMEunited welcomes President von der Leyen's measures for SMEs, announced at the State of the Union address today. SMEs support the efforts to reduce electricity demand, push down prices and avoid blackouts.

EU plans 5 pct reduction in electricity consumption — 14 September 2022, 22:35 CET

The EU Commission proposed Wednesday to reduce electricity consumption by at least 5 per cent during peak price hours, as Europe responds to dramatic price rises and energy supply shortages.

Emergency intervention to address high energy prices - guide — 14 September 2022, 22:28 CET

The EU is confronted with the effects of a severe mismatch between energy demand and supply, due largely to the continued weaponisation by Russia of its energy resources. The European Commission proposed on 14 September an emergency intervention in Europe's energy markets to tackle recent dramatic price rises.

European Parliament finally wakes up on biomass threat — 14 September 2022, 21:10 CET

In the middle of a roaring energy crisis, and in the teeth of a massive lobbying push by corporate interests, the European Parliament today took its first steps towards fixing the forest biomass problem in its vote on the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).

EIB to provide up to EUR 10 bn for shift away from fossil fuels — 07 September 2022, 23:05 CET

The European Investment Bank and the Commission signed an agreement Wednesday paving the way for EUR 11.5 billion in loans and grants to support regions' transition to a climate-neutral economy.

EU commits to reducing gas demand by 15 pct next winter — 02 August 2022, 22:49 CET

As the EU prepares for possible disruptions of gas supplies from Russia, Member States reached a political agreement Tuesday on a voluntary reduction of natural gas demand by 15 per cent this winter.

EU 'Save Gas for a Safe Winter' Plan - guide — 20 July 2022, 23:35 CET

The European Commission is proposing a new legislative tool and a European Gas Demand Reduction Plan, to reduce gas use in Europe by 15% until next spring.

EU targets 15 pct reduction in gas use by next spring — 23 July 2022, 00:11 CET

With Europe facing the risk of further gas supply cuts by Russia, the European Commission put forward Wednesday a European Gas Demand Reduction Plan to reduce gas use in Europe.

EU to double Azerbaijan gas imports by 2027 — 26 July 2022, 16:05 CET

The EU signed an agreement Monday to strengthen cooperation with Azerbaijan, including doubling gas imports to the EU by 2027, as part of European efforts to move away from Russian fossil fuels.

Euro-MPs call for 45 pct renewables by 2030 — 13 July 2022, 22:47 CET

The European Parliament's environment committee voted Wednesday to accelerate substantially the deployment of renewable energy, and also reductions in energy consumption, by 2030.

EU supports clean tech projects with EUR 1.8 billion funding — 12 July 2022, 23:35 CET

The European Union launched over EUR 1.8 billion of awards Tuesday to 17 large-scale innovative projects to bring breakthrough technologies to the market in energy-intensive industries.

MEPS push to decarbonise aviation with cooking oil — 12 July 2022, 00:04 CET

Used cooking oil, synthetic fuel or even hydrogen should become the norm as aviation fuel, the European Parliament said Thursday as the EU looks for sustainable fuel to reach climate neutrality by 2050.

European Parliament greenlights institutional greenwashing of consumers' investments and pensions — 06 July 2022, 18:54 CET

The European Parliament has given its green light to the European Commission's plans to label nuclear energy and fossil gas as 'green investments'. For BEUC, this is unacceptable institutional greenwashing and will prevent consumers from investing sustainably.

This is not over yet - WWF will not rest until the Taxonomy is truly green — 06 July 2022, 18:50 CET

Like the Commission and the Council previously, the European Parliament failed climate and citizens by endorsing a set of sustainable finance rules which will channel billions of euros into activities that will accelerate climate change and harm the planet, during a vote in today's plenary session.

MEPs fail to reject gas, nuclear from EU Taxonomy guidebook — 06 July 2022, 18:46 CET

Euro-MPs failed Wednesday to oppose the inclusion of nuclear and gas as environmentally sustainable economic activities, voting instead in favour of labelling them as green activities in the EU Taxonomy.

Car and van CO2 targets: Charging infrastructure essential to meet member state ambition — 29 June 2022, 21:35 CET

To meet the extremely ambitious CO2 reduction goals agreed last night by European environment ministers, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) is calling for drastic action on charging infrastructure.

EU states agree higher targets for renewables — 28 June 2022, 22:56 CET

EU ministers adopted a general approach on two legislative proposals that tackle energy aspects of the EU’s climate transition, the renewable energies directive and the energy efficiency directive.