The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council meeting discussed on the 14 of February two aspects of the Commission's proposal on the draft regulation on trans-European energy infrastructure: regional groups and regulatory measures. In addition, Ministers also held a debate on the main obstacles to the achievement of the Europe 2020 energy objectives.

The meeting of the Council held on 14 of February focused on the draft regulation on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure. The proposal is intended to help the EU deliver the huge investments in energy infrastructure required to replace ageing infrastructure, to ensure security of supply, to make the transition to a low-carbon economy and to complete the internal energy market and it is linked to the Connecting Europe Facility. Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Ministers held a policy debate focusing on regional groups and regulatory measures. As regards discussions on the regional groups, several member states underlined the need for a stronger role for Member States in the final adoption of the single Union-wide list of projects of special interest, and in the preparatory stages that take place in the regional groups. It was also underlined that the regional groups should be based on the existing groups.

Concerning discussions regarding regulatory measures, delegations supported harmonised, system-wide cost-benefit analysis at Union level for all projects of common interest, however several Member States commented that they want to have a decisive say in the methodology that will be used. Most delegations supported in principle the cost allocation mechanism for cross-border projects of common interest, though several questions on its functioning remain to be decided, and also here member states underlined their own role.

The Energy Council also held a policy debate on its contribution to the European Semester, the cycle of economic policy coordination under the Europe 2020 strategy for jobs and growth, in the light of the 2012 Annual Growth Survey. Ministers addressed in particular the main obstacles to the achievement of the Europe 2020 energy objectives and measures in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy which have the greatest potential to contribute to growth and job creation.