European Union News - Energy

The opinion adopted by the European Economic and Social Committee on the Connecting Europe Facility put forward the idea of creating an energy super-network underpinned by decentralised smart networks with regard to fill the missing links in European energy, telecom and transport infrastructure.

At the 12th session of the Global Ministerial Environment Forum held in Nairobi (Kenya), Mercedes Bresso, president of the Committee of the Regions, highlighted the need for local and regional authorities to be more involved in environmental and sustainable development policy-making and programme implementation at global level.

The annual Sustainable Energy Europe Awards that reward best-in-class initiatives to promote renewable energy or energy efficiency, is still opened to entries. The Awards Ceremony is one highlight of EU Sustainable Energy Week that will take place in Brussels and across Europe between 18 and 22 June 2012.

Ministers at the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting held on 21 February reached an agreement to continue to work together with other countries and relevant stakeholders, on potential pathways for long term finance that may contribute to reaching the long term committed goal of mobilizing jointly US$100 billion per year by 2020 by developed countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions. In addition, they adopted conclusions on the economic aspects of the roadmap to a resource-efficient Europe.

The Digital Environment Home Energy Management System (DEHEMS) project presented by the Commission shows that, when consumers receives more information about their energy use, and can share and compare this with neighbours and family, they is more likely to change their behaviour.

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 Joint Research Centre published a report which shows that Member States plan to reach an overall share of 20.7% of energy from renewable sources by 2020. Even more, Member States are planning to exceed their own targets and will therefore be able to provide surpluses for other Member States.

ITER, the world's biggest energy research project, has got an extra €1.3 billion funding for 2012 and 2013 following the agreement reached between the Council and Parliament. Thus, the Commission adopted a draft amending budget to meet the €650 million this year's contribution to the ITER project.

EESC members backed the idea of creating a European Energy Community (EEC) in order to complete an EU-wide internal energy market and shaping a common, strategic approach to energy issues. In addition they underlined the importance of a joint approach to energy production, transmission and consumption.

Thanks to the MARINET 'Marine renewables infrastructure network' initiative, companies from countries FP7 countries will access to test facilities in specialist marine renewable energy centres across Europe. This initiative funded with €9 million Euro, will help remove some of the financial barriers that sometimes stand in the way of access to world-class European testing facilities.