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European Energy Security Strategy: new vision

Eugene Eteris, BC, Copenhagen, 14.07.2014.Print version
At the roundtable organized by the College of Europe and the Commission's Directorate-General Energy, EU Commissioner for energy underlined new aspects of the Energy Security Strategy presented to the member states at the end of May 2014.

Energy security is the EU’s topical issue and political priority due to the energy-related concerns resulting from the current tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

 

Russia is the EU’s foremost external energy supplier and Ukraine a key transit country for energy resources to the EU. In this context, any disruption in supplies from them would have an important impact on the EU.

 

Much has been achieved since the last major disruption in 2009 to improve European energy security situation – including new interconnections, Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) facilities and reverse flow capabilities.

 

As a response to the current uncertainties, the European Council requested on 21 March 2014 that the EU institutions shall elaborate a new Energy Security Strategy and comprehensive plan to reduce energy import dependency. Less than two months later, on 28 May 2014, the Commission presented a comprehensive Strategy with a series of detailed proposals. These proposals benefited from the input received from several EU states and from energy sector.


Three most important Strategy’s orientations

First, there is a consensus that more needs to be done, both at national and European level, in order to cope with new energy security challenges. Much progress has been done in the last few years to enhance Europe's energy security. But Europe remains vulnerable to energy shocks; it needs to do more, notably to better protect certain regions of Europe most exposed to energy dependence.  

 

Second, the Union's energy security is inseparable from European climate and energy policy framework towards European/global 2030 policy discussion; the two issues are inseparable. Together with competitiveness and sustainability, it is at the very core of the EU energy policy. Ultimately, the transition to a competitive, low-carbon economy is the main possibility for the member states to reduce energy import dependency in the long term.

 

Third, the EU and the member states need to act now in view of securing supplies this winter. Existing European emergency and solidarity mechanisms should be reinforced. Therefore, the Commission wishes to immediately launch a series of Energy Security Stress Tests, involving of course in the first place the gas transmission system operators.

 

The Union must also engage with its international partners to develop new solidarity mechanisms for natural gas and the use of gas storage facilities. The EU intends to cooperate notably with the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the United States, Canada and Japan, bearing in mind the Joint Statement from the G7 Energy Ministerial meeting in early 2014.  


Key policy proposals

Besides these three points, the Commission designed several key policy proposals (they were put forward in the Commission’s communication to member states).

 

= Europe needs to achieve a better functioning and a more integrated energy market. New infrastructure investments promoted by dominant suppliers must adhere to all internal market and competition rules. This is why the South stream project should be suspended until full compliance with EU legislation; it has to be re-evaluated in light of the EU's energy security priorities.

= On the contrary, priority projects should be accelerated to join up existing energy islands and ensure delivery of the existing interconnection target of at least 10% of the installed electricity production capacity by 2020. The Commission proposes that by 2030 EU-28 states should be on track to meet a 15% interconnection target.

= Besides, the EU most exposed neighbors in European energy security strategy, i.e. Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans have to be included as well. The recent agreement on reverse flows between the Slovak Republic and Ukraine is very important in this respect.

Furthermore the member states have to intensify diversification efforts: in the coming years, LNG will be an important flexibility element and existing and future re-gasification capacities shall be better used.

= There is a need to reinforced partnership with Norway, to accelerate introduction of the Southern Gas Corridor and to promote a new gas hub in Southern Europe.

 

The Commission proposed to include energy issues into the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) showing the EU-US shared and common vision of energy security and sustainability; that could be best achieved through open, competitive and transparent international energy markets and through supportive policies promoting sustainability of energy production and consumption, e.g. in the development of renewable energies and energy efficiency.

 

= Energy security objectives should also be fully reflected in the implementation of the EU financial instruments in the period 2014-20, in particular using the European Regional Development Fund, the Connecting Europe Facility, Horizon 2020 and the European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument.

 

= Finally, the Commission insists on more coordination of national energy policies to respond credibly to the challenge of energy security. National choices over energy mix or energy infrastructure affect other member states and the Union as a whole. EU states should better inform each other and the Commission when defining their long-term energy policy strategies and preparing intergovernmental agreements with third countries. Further efforts are needed to ensure better synergies between energy objectives and foreign policy and to speak to European partners with a single voice.

 

The European Energy Security Strategy which the Commission has proposed is comprehensive and balanced. Many specific proposals will need to be further detailed and discussed. However,  the new general orientations shall provide a clear basis for a thorough discussion and for strong political decisions at the next European Councils.  

 

Source: Günther H. Oettinger, European Commissioner for Energy. Speech/14/505 “European Energy Security Strategy: key priorities and actions”, European Commission; 25/06/2014. In:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-505_en.htm?locale=en







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