Energy Policy in the EU

Latest news on the energy policy of the European Union.

EU authorises compensation to electricity producers in Hungary — 27 April 2010, 22:22 CET

The European Commission has authorised, under EU State aid rules, an aid scheme to compensate electricity producers for costs incurred after liberalisation of the market in Hungary.

Ministers agree improvements to energy performance of buildings — 15 April 2010, 23:59 CET

The Council of Ministers agreed today on improvements to the energy performance of buildings directive which aim to clarify, strengthen and extend the scope of the current Directive and to reduce the large differences between Member states' practices in this sector.

Ministers agree on labelling of energy-related products — 15 April 2010, 23:59 CET

The Council of Ministers agreed today to extend the Directive on the indication by labelling, restricted to household appliances, to all energy-related products.

Commission approves €19 million German support to Salzgitter AG — 15 April 2010, 00:18 CET

The European Commission has authorised Germany to grant €19.1 million for an energy-saving steel production project run by Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH, a subsidiary of the Salzgitter AG group.

Commission increases electricity trading capacity on the Swedish borders — 15 April 2010, 00:18 CET

The European Commission has adopted a decision rendering legally binding commitments offered by Svenska Kraftnät (SvK) that will increase trade in electricity within Sweden and between Sweden and neighbouring countries.

Norway leads — 25 March 2010, 23:55 CET

Last week, the Norwegian government announced that it is on track to meet its new renewables target for 2011. On the face of it, this isn’t significant – the country had only 428Mw of installed wind capacity at the end of 2009, so the contribution from wind and other 'new renewables' (that is, not large hydro) is not huge. However, Norway is significant on climate change and has played a major role in climate policy for many years.

Survey highlights lack of information and funds as main obstacles to greater SME energy efficiency — 24 June 2010, 12:48 CET

A new EUROCHAMBRES survey, presented at a European Sustainable Energy Week event in Brussels today reveals that businesses are conscious of the importance and benefits of using energy more efficiently, but most of them lack the information and resources to do so.

Euro-MPs vote to tighten security of gas supplies — 19 March 2010, 23:46 CET

The European Parliament's Industry Committee has proposed a strenthening of gas crisis prevention measures, laying down new requirements for plans to offset any serious disruptions to gas supplies from third countries.

MEPs back fresh EU money for low-carbon technologies — 12 March 2010, 00:52 CET

Euro-MPs have approved fresh EU funding for the development of innovative low-carbon technologies to help cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020.

EU energy rules still not being implemented: report — 11 March 2010, 22:57 CET

EU Member States are lagging behind in the implementation of the internal energy market rules, reveals the Commission’s 2009 Benchmarking Report published today.

European Energy Programme for Recovery - briefing — 09 March 2010, 18:38 CET

The European Commission selected on 4 March 43 major energy projects, which will significantly contribute to the economic recovery in the EU, while increasing our security of energy supply by creating cross-border infrastructure. With today's decision, the Commission grants € 2.3 billion to 31 gas and 12 electricity projects. This is the second financial decision under the Economic Recovery Package which amounts to almost 4 billion Euros. It is the largest amount the EU has ever spent on energy infrastructure.

What the EU should do about CCS — 03 March 2010, 23:43 CET

This morning, the Centre for European Reform launched the report which Simon Tilford and I have written about what the EU should do about CCS (carbon capture and storage). We argue that large-scale demonstration will require public money, and that widespread and rapid deployment will require regulation, ideally at European level.

Ukraine is more than just a transit country — 25 February 2010, 23:23 CET

Ukraine is one of the top 20 countries in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and it is the site of Chernobyl. It is also a country which, after it became independent, gave up its nuclear weapons.

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy — 17 February 2010, 13:22 CET

Responsibilities, contacts and latest studies of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

EU - Iraq Strategic Energy Partnership Memorandum of Understanding - briefing — 18 January 2010, 16:00 CET

The European Union and the Republic of Iraq have signed in Baghdad, Iraq, a Memorandum of Understanding on a "Strategic Energy Partnership" which provides a political framework for reinforcing energy relations between Iraq and the EU. It also outlines priorities for future cooperation, taking into account the possible role of Iraq as a natural gas supplier for the Southern Corridor and that Iraq has the world's third largest proven petroleum reserves; Iraq could become an energy bridge between the Middle East, the Mediterranean and the EU.

Europe must follow Germany and Spain — 07 January 2010, 16:23 CET

For the next six months, Spain holds the Presidency of the EU and, from the start of February, there will be a new European Commission, with the German Gunther Oettinger, a member of Merkel’s centre-right CDU party, as Energy Commissioner. Spain and Germany lead the EU on wind and solar power, so there are good grounds to hope that the new leadership will result in a major speeding up of the low carbon transition.

Energy efficiency: energy performance of buildings — 06 January 2010, 01:35 CET

The Member States must apply minimum requirements as regards the energy performance of new and existing buildings, ensure the certification of their energy performance and require the regular inspection of boilers and air conditioning systems in buildings.

European Buildings- Are they really green enough? — 11 December 2009, 00:28 CET

Despite the recent EU agreement to transform the building sector with the adoption of ambitious energy efficiency legislation, practical barriers remain in Europe, according to the latest RICS report "Towards an Energy Efficient European Building Stock".

List of 15 energy projects for European economic recovery — 09 December 2009, 23:09 CET

The European Commission has approved 15 energy projects which will significantly contribute to the economic recovery of the EU, while increasing our security of energy supply and substantially reduce CO2 emissions. With the decision, the Commission grants EUR 1 billion to six Carbon Capture and Storage projects and EUR 565 million to nine offshore wind energy projects.

Ecodesign for energy-using appliances — 08 December 2009, 00:54 CET

Ecodesign is a new concept aimed at reducing energy consumption by products such as household electrical appliances. Information concerning the product's environmental performance and energy efficiency must be visible if possible on the product itself, thus allowing consumers to compare before purchasing.

Controlling fuel poverty during the transition — 01 December 2009, 19:33 CET

The transition from a fossil fuel economy to a renewable one, and the use of low-carbon bridge technologies like nuclear power and carbon capture and storage (CCS), will cost billions.

Ecodesign for energy-using appliances — 10 December 2009, 16:44 CET

The EU's 'ecodesign' is a new concept aimed at reducing energy consumption by products such as household electrical appliances. Information concerning a product's environmental performance and energy efficiency must be visible if possible on the product itself, thus allowing consumers to compare before purchasing.

The EU and energy efficiency — 20 November 2009, 22:47 CET

The now-ratified Lisbon Treaty says that there will, in the future, be a common energy policy, but this is unlikely to have much practical impact. Yet the EU has already set binding and enforceable targets on renewables, has significant regulatory powers which will be crucial for widespread CCS deployment. It also has money, which will be important both for renewables and for CCS demonstration. It has little role over nuclear energy. However, it should be doing much more on energy efficiency.

European Commission outlines a vision of 80% renewable energy by 2050 — 17 November 2009, 00:26 CET

Over 550 high-level political decision makers at EU, national and regional level, representatives of the renewable energy industry, NGOs and scientists gathered in Brussels for the 3rd European Renewable Energy Policy Conference, organized by EREC as an official event of the Swedish EU Presidency. The conference showed a broad consensus that renewable energy will be the mainstream source of Europe's energy supply by 2050.

Acting locally, thinking globally — 17 October 2009, 15:07 CET

“Think global; act local” – the phrase often used by of Friends of the Earth – is an excellent philosophy.