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Minimum principles for shale gas - Recommendation by EUbusiness — last modified 22 January 2014, 14:11 CET

The European Commission has adopted a Recommendation aiming to ensure that proper environmental and climate safeguards are in place for "fracking" - the high-volume hydraulic fracturing technique used notably in shale gas operations. It says the Recommendation should help all Member States wishing to use this practice address health and environmental risks and improve transparency for citizens. It also lays the ground for a level playing field for industry and establishes a clearer framework for investors. The Recommendation is accompanied by a Communication that considers the opportunities and challenges of using "fracking", to extract hydrocarbons. Both documents are part of a wider initiative by the Commission to put in place an integrated climate and energy policy framework for the period up to 2030.

2030 framework on climate and energy by EUbusiness — last modified 22 January 2014, 14:02 CET

A reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% below the 1990 level, an EU-wide binding target for renewable energy of at least 27 pre cent, renewed ambitions for energy efficiency policies, a new governance system and a set of new indicators to ensure a competitive and secure energy system. These are the pillars of the new EU framework on climate and energy for 2030 presented today by the European Commission.

EU action plan to support development of blue energy by EUbusiness — last modified 20 January 2014, 13:30 CET

The European Commission today presented a new action plan to facilitate the further development of the renewable ocean energy sector in Europe. A central element in this action plan will be to establish an Ocean Energy Forum, bringing together stakeholders to build capacity and foster cooperation. The Commission says the action plan should help drive forward this nascent 'blue energy' sector towards full industrialisation. Ocean energy covers all technologies to harvest the renewable energy of our seas and oceans other than offshore wind. Its exploitation would contribute to the decarbonisation of the EU's economy and provide secure and reliable renewable energy to Europe.

Smarter Cities and Communities by EUbusiness — last modified 26 November 2013, 18:57 CET

City leaders, CEOs and civil society leaders discussed today at a conference hosted by the European Commission actions outlined in the "Smart Cities Strategic Implementation Plan" and how to put them into practice. The Commission announced that it will launch an 'Invitation for Smart City and Community Commitments' in spring 2014 to mobilise work on the action plan's priorities. The plan is part of Europe's fifth "Innovation Partnership". Cities are the major source of European economic activity and innovation. But cities are also a major source of greenhouse gases and pollution. Concerted action is needed to make urban environments cleaner and healthier to live in and to make them use less energy. The European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Smart Cities and Communities and its "Strategic Implementation Plan" are leading the way in making the transformation of cities into "Smart Cities" a reality. Real impact could be made through investments in 'zero/plus' energy districts, increased use of alternative energies for cleaner transport, public transport and efficient logistics to reduce negative impacts of congestion, or green, widely available ICTs and multiple-use infrastructures.

EU Commission: Guidance for state intervention in electricity by EUbusiness — last modified 07 November 2013, 00:17 CET

The European Commission presented on 5 November a Communication which gives guidance to EU Member States on how to make the most of public interventions, how to reform existing ones - especially renewable energy subsidy schemes - and how to effectively design new ones. This concerns back-up capacities for renewable energy, mostly fossil fuel energy which is produced when there is no sun or wind. While conceding that in some very specific cases public intervention might be necessary to attain public policy objectives - it says it needs be balanced, taking into account the costs and the distortions it can create in the market.

Projects of common interest in energy - 250 infrastructure projects may qualify for EUR 5.85 bn funding by EUbusiness — last modified 16 October 2013, 12:45 CET

The European Commission adopted on 14 October a list of some 250 key energy infrastructure projects designed to create a modern infrastructure with adequate interconnectors and reliable networks. These "projects of common interest" (PCI) will benefit from accelerated licensing procedures and improved regulatory conditions and may have access to financial support from the Connecting Europe Facility, under which a EUR 5.85 bn budget has been allocated to trans-European energy infrastructure for the period 2014-20. The Commission says this will help them get implemented faster and make them more attractive to investors. Once completed, the projects will help EU Member States to integrate their energy markets, enable them to diversify their energy sources and help bring an end to the energy isolation of some Member States. They will also enable the grid to uptake increasing amounts of renewables, and consequently help reduce CO2 emissions.

New Nuclear Safety Directive by EUbusiness — last modified 13 June 2013, 15:51 CET

In a new proposal which amends the nuclear safety directive from 2009, the European Commission sets out EU-wide safety objectives to significantly reduce the risks and protect people and the environment. By introducing a system of regular European peer reviews, increasing transparency on nuclear safety matters and strengthening the powers of national regulators, the directive aims at continuous improvement of nuclear safety across the EU.

Green Paper on a 2030 framework for climate and energy policies by EUbusiness — last modified 27 March 2013, 15:30 CET

The European Commission has taken the first step towards developing a 2030 framework for EU climate change and energy policies. It has adopted a Green Paper which launches a public consultation on the content of the 2030 framework. The Commission also published a Consultative Communication on the future of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Europe, aimed at initiating a debate on the options available to ensure its timely development. Finally, the Commission adopted a report assessing Member States' progress towards their 2020 renewable energy targets and reports on the sustainability of biofuels and bioliquids consumed in the EU.

Promoting energy efficient vehicles - financial incentives by EUbusiness — last modified 28 February 2013, 17:16 CET

The European Commission has published new guidelines on how EU Member States should use financial incentives to best increase demand for low CO2 emission vehicles.

Political agreement on offshore legislation by EUbusiness — last modified 21 February 2013, 20:51 CET

The European Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on a Commission legislative proposal on the safety of oil and gas operations in the EU. It was in the aftermath of the "Deepwater Horizon" accident in the US Gulf of Mexico in May 2010 that the Commission reviewed the existing Member States' safety frameworks for offshore operations and proposed new legislation to guarantee that world's highest safety, health and environmental standards apply everywhere in the EU. The European Parliament and Council are expected to formally approve the legislation in the coming months.

Clean Power for Transport Package by EUbusiness — last modified 24 January 2013, 15:43 CET

The European Commission has announced an ambitious package of measures to ensure the build-up of alternative fuel stations across Europe with common standards for their design and use. Policy initiatives so far have mostly addressed the actual fuels and vehicles, without considering fuels distribution. Efforts to provide incentives have been un-co-ordinated and insufficient.

First call for proposals under the NER300 programme by EUbusiness — last modified 20 December 2012, 23:03 CET

The European Commission on 18 December awarded over EUR 1.2 billion funding to 23 highly innovative renewable energy demonstration projects under the first call for proposals for the so-called NER300 funding programme. Projects will be co-financed with revenues obtained from the sale of 200 million emission allowances from the new entrants' reserve (NER) of the EU Emissions Trading System.

Making the internal energy market work - Communication by EUbusiness — last modified 15 November 2012, 17:04 CET

On 15 November 2012, the European Commission presented a Communication assessing the state of play of the internal energy market, to be completed by 2014. The Communication encourages EU Member States to step up efforts, highlighting the benefits of a truly integrated European market for citizens and business. The document also identifies the need for further action in a number of areas including consumer protection, enforcing the existing rules and investing in the modernisation of energy infrastructure. The Commission says it will work with Member States to empower consumers and to phase out state interventions which distort markets.

Options to reform the European carbon market by EUbusiness — last modified 14 November 2012, 19:05 CET

The European Commission is taking two important steps to address the growing supply-demand imbalance of emission allowances in the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS). As an immediate first step to address the rapid build-up of the surplus of emissions allowances, the Commission made a formal proposal to revise the auction time profile and delay ("back-load") the auctioning of 900 million allowances in the third phase of the EU ETS starting next year. The Commission also on 14 November adopted a report on the state of the European carbon market which sets out a range of possible structural measures that can be taken to tackle the surplus. The surplus of emission allowances has primarily built up because the economic crisis has reduced industrial emissions of greenhouse gases by more than anticipated, leading in turn to lower demand for allowances from businesses. The surplus is expected to continue in the third phase of the system, which will run from 2013 to 2020.

EU anti-subsidy investigation on solar panel imports from China by EUbusiness — last modified 08 November 2012, 13:46 CET

The European Commission has launched an anti-subsidy ("countervailing duty") investigation into imports of solar panels and their key components (i.e. solar cells and solar wafers) originating in China.

Commission proposal to minimise the climate impacts of biofuel production by EUbusiness — last modified 17 October 2012, 16:59 CET

The European Commission has published a proposal to limit global land conversion for biofuel production, and raise the climate benefits of biofuels used in the EU. The use of food-based biofuels to meet the 10% renewable energy target of the Renewable Energy Directive will be limited to 5%. This is to stimulate the development of alternative, so-called second generation biofuels from non-food feedstock, like waste or straw, which emit substantially less greenhouse gases than fossil fuels and do not directly interfere with global food production. For the first time, the estimated global land conversion impacts - Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) - will be considered when assessing the greenhouse gas performance of biofuels.

EU energy efficiency directive by EUbusiness — last modified 13 September 2012, 16:05 CET

Mandatory energy-saving measures, including renovating public buildings, energy-saving schemes for utilities, and energy audits for all large firms, will be required by an EU energy efficiency directive approved by the European Parliament in plenary on 11 September. It is estimated that cutting energy consumption by 20% could save the EU EUR 50 billion per year.

Temporary free allocation of emission allowances for power plants beyond 2012 - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 24 May 2012, 11:05 CET

The European Commission has adopted a framework under which EU Member states may compensate some electro-intensive users, such as steel and aluminium producers, for part of the higher electricity costs expected to result from a change to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) as from 2013. The rules ensure that national support measures are designed in a way that preserves the EU objective of decarbonising the European economy and maintains a level playing field among competitors in the internal market. The sectors deemed eligible for compensation include producers of aluminium, copper, fertilisers, steel, paper, cotton, chemicals and some plastics.

Securing the EU's energy interests abroad by EUbusiness — last modified 07 September 2011, 19:49 CET

The European Commission has adopted a Communication on security of energy supply and international cooperation, setting out for the first time a comprehensive strategy for the EU's external relations in energy. Improved coordination among EU Member States in identifying and implementing clear priorities in external energy policy is central to the approach outlined by the Commission. In today's ever-changing global energy markets, the EC says achieving EU energy security calls for adequate coordination at home and a strong and assertive position abroad.

New EC Energy Efficiency Directive - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 22 June 2011, 20:58 CET

The cheapest energy is the one we do not consume. The counting down has started to achieve Europe's 20% energy efficiency target for 2020. If nothing changes in the coming years, the EU will achieve only half of the target. This threatens our competitiveness, our fight to reduce CO2 emissions and our security of supply. This is still a high cost for every consumer's bill. A new set of measures for increased Energy Efficiency is proposed today by the European Commission to fill the gap and put back the EU on track. This proposal for this new directive brings forward measures to step up Member States efforts to use energy more efficiently at all stages of the energy chain – from the transformation of energy and its distribution to its final consumption.