Energy Policy in the EU

Latest news on the energy policy of the European Union.

EU gets tough on climate change, intensifies energy investment — 08 October 2009, 22:48 CET

Growing concerns on climate change, energy supply and competitiveness weigh heavily on the minds of Europeans. The European Commission is determined to fight this escalating problem and has called on public officials, industry and researchers to pool their resources and develop key technologies that would address this nagging issue. The target date is 2020.

SETIS - the Information System of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) — 08 October 2009, 22:37 CET

This website contains data and methodologies supporting decision-making on the SET Plan. They relate to energy technologies identified as key to moving towards a low-carbon future in Europe. SETIS's purpose is to efficiently collect, harmonise, validate, analyse and disseminate information on the priority energy technologies identified by the SET Plan, across the EU. The goal is to provide undisputed and transparent data and methodologies to support the strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation of the European Energy Technology policy. SETIS is managed by the European Commission, with its Joint Research Centre (JRC) at the heart, assuring the neutrality and objectivity of the data.

SETIS (SET-Plan Information System) - briefing — 08 October 2009, 22:44 CET

The European Commission has launched "SETIS", the online Strategic Energy Technologies (SET-Plan) Information System, which provides the latest research results on the status, forecasts and R&D investment figures for low-carbon technologies. It underpins the effective strategic planning, conception and implementation of EU energy technology policy and serves notably to the implementation of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan). SETIS assesses and monitors those technologies that have a significant potential to help Europe meet its energy and climate change targets, such as wind power, solar power, CCS or bioenergy. The Information System offers interactive tools to compare the maximum potential and energy production costs foreseen for the different technologies over time.

A first step towards improved energy bills for consumers — 01 October 2009, 17:42 CET

The European Commission's Citizens' Energy Forum has yesterday endorsed a report on good practice guidance as well as ten recommendations on energy billing.

Environment and sustainable management of natural resources — 02 October 2009, 22:24 CET

The main objectives of Thematic Programme for Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources including Energy for the period 2007-2013 are to integrate environmental protection requirements into the Community's development and other external policies and to help promote the Community’s environmental and energy policies abroad in the common interest of the Community and partner countries and regions.

Policy Coherence for Development — 02 October 2009, 22:28 CET

When exploring ways to accelerate progress towards achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the European Union (EU) considers how non-aid policies can assist developing countries in attaining the MDGs. The EU activity in this field is not only a key political commitment in the context of the MDGs, but also has a firm legal basis in the Treaty establishing the European Community (Article 178).

Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council — 25 September 2009, 23:03 CET

Since June 2002 these three policies have been placed under the sole responsibility of a single Council configuration which meets approximately every two months. The composition of the Council varies according to the items on the agenda (Ministers for Transport, Telecommunications or Energy).

Is the ‘peak oil’ debate relevant? — 17 September 2009, 12:04 CET

Should we worry about oil and gas running out? No.

Eco-design of Energy-Using Products — 01 September 2009, 20:20 CET

The EU's Ecodesign aims at reducing the environmental impact of products, including the energy consumption throughout their entire life cycle.

Phasing out conventional incandescent bulbs — 01 September 2009, 20:20 CET

On 18 March 2008, the European Commission adopted a regulation on non-directional household lamps which would replace inefficient incandescent bulbs by more efficient alternatives (such as improved incandescent bulbs with halogen technology and compact fluorescent lamps) between 2009 and 2012.

EU Climate change and energy package — 03 September 2009, 14:10 CET

To start transforming Europe into a highly energy-efficient, low-carbon economy, EU leaders have committed to cutting emissions by at least 20 per cent independently of what other countries decide to do. To underpin these commitments, they set three key targets to be met by 2020: a 20% reduction in energy consumption compared with projected trends; an increase to 20% in renewable energies' share of total energy consumption; and an increase to 10% in the share of petrol and diesel consumption from sustainably-produced biofuels. The package of climate and energy-related legislative proposals was proposed by the European Commission to implement these commitments and targets.

Energy-saving light bulbs: good for consumers but outstanding issues need to be addressed — 26 August 2009, 11:33 CET

From 1st September 2009, incandescent light bulbs will gradually be removed from the European market. ANEC, the European Consumer Voice in Standardisation and BEUC, the European Consumers' Organisation, welcome the phasing-out of incandescent light bulbs. Not only will consumers benefit financially from the measure, but most importantly, they will be able to contribute to improved energy efficiency by reducing their energy consumption.

Energy — 20 August 2009, 23:33 CET

Reliable energy supplies at reasonable prices for businesses and consumers and with the minimum environmental impact are crucial to the European economy. The European Union has therefore identified energy as one of its key priorities.

EU Energy Policy Contacts — 02 February 2012, 11:46 CET

 

Energy Infrastructure — 02 February 2012, 11:34 CET

The European Union finances electricity and gas transmission infrastructure projects of European interest. A yearly budget of about EUR 25 million is spent mainly for supporting feasibility studies. Most of the projects cross national borders or have an influence on several EU Member States.

Security of Supply — 02 February 2012, 11:28 CET

With both energy consumption and dependency on oil and gas imports growing and supplies becoming scarcer, the risk of supply failure is rising. Securing European energy supplies is therefore high on the EU's agenda.

Energy Efficiency — 02 February 2012, 11:07 CET

Reducing energy consumption and eliminating energy wastage are among the main goals of the European Union (EU). EU support for improving energy efficiency will prove decisive for competitiveness, security of supply and for meeting the commitments on climate change made under the Kyoto Protocol.

Renewable Energy — 02 February 2012, 11:22 CET

Renewable sources of energy – wind power, solar power (thermal, photovoltaic and concentrated), hydro-electric power, tidal power, geothermal energy and biomass – are essential alternatives to fossil fuels. Their use reduces our greenhouse gas emissions, diversifies our energy supply and reduces our dependence on unreliable and volatile fossil fuel markets (in particular oil and gas).

Future Energy Policy — 12 August 2009, 17:52 CET

In the autumn of 2005, the Hampton Court summit of EU leaders discussed the need for an overall stocktaking of Europe’s energy policy options. There was a rising concern regarding high oil and gas prices and Europe’s dependency on just a few external suppliers. Warning signs on the worrying effects of climate change were also increasingly evident. To answer the call of the summit, the European Commission opened a wide-ranging debate on a future European energy policy with the publication of a Green Paper in March 2006.

Future Energy — 12 August 2009, 17:53 CET

"The EU and the world are at a cross-roads concerning the future of energy. Climate change, increasing dependence on oil and other fossil fuels, growing imports, and rising energy costs are making our societies and economies vulnerable. These challenges call for a comprehensive and ambitious response." European Commission Renewable Energy Road Map

EU's Energy-related Strategies 2006-2007 — 11 August 2009, 18:41 CET

The European Union's energy policy focuses on creating a competitive internal energy market offering quality service at low prices, on developing renewable energy sources, on reducing dependence on imported fuels, and on doing more with a lower consumption of energy.

EU's Energy-related Strategies 2008-2009 — 11 August 2009, 18:43 CET

The European Union is putting in place an ambitious energy policy – covering the full range of energy sources from fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) to nuclear energy and renewables (solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydro-electric and tidal) - in a bid to spark a new industrial revolution that will deliver a low-energy economy, whilst making the energy we do consume more secure, competitive and sustainable.

Greater EU coordination of measures to improve the security of gas supplies - briefing — 16 July 2009, 15:59 CET

The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a regulation to receive better information on investment projects into energy infrastructure within the EU. This will establish greater transparency on the likely evolution of energy infrastructure in main energy sectors such as oil (including biofuels), electricity (including nuclear electricity) and gas, but also in related areas such as the transport and storage of carbon related to energy production. Transparency on planned and ongoing investment projects will help to assess whether there is a risk of infrastructure gaps over the coming years as a significant proportion of ageing capacities have to be renewed or new capacities have to be built in order to make the low carbon energy mix a reality.

EC infringement exercise concerning cross-border energy network access and regulated prices - briefing — 25 June 2009, 17:36 CET

The Commission has launched new infringement proceedings against 25 EU Member States for not complying with the EU legislation on the internal market for electricity and gas, notably the Electricity Regulation (1228/2003), the Gas Regulation (1775/2005), the Electricity Directive (2003/54/EC) and the Gas Directive (2003/55/EC). If the Member States do not implement the internal energy market rules, the Commission says they prevent European consumers and the other market participants from benefiting from the advantages of a competitive and open energy market.

EC Communication on Demonstrating Carbon Capture and Geological Storage (CCS) in emerging developing countries - briefing — 25 June 2009, 13:10 CET

Communication on Demonstrating Carbon Capture and Geological Storage (CCS) in emerging developing countries: financing the EU-China Near Zero Emissions Coal Plant project