European Union News - Energy

On Tuesday 17th June, the European Parliament ITRE Committee adopted the report of Ms. Eluned Morgan (PES, UK) concerning "common rules for the internal market in electricity" In line with the European Parliament position, the EESC supports the principle of the effective unbundling of transmission system operators, electricity supply and production activities. In its recent opinion on the "Third legislative package on the electricity and gas markets", the EESC refuses the alternative option known as "Independent 'System Operator" that enables vertically integrated companies to retain the ownership of their network assets. EESC Member Carmelo Cedrone (Group II-Employees, Italy), believes that the behaviour of some Member States that oppose  ownership unbundling conflicts with the spirit of the original Commission proposal, which aimed to create a viable internal energy market.

The 6th JRC Energy efficiency workshop on "Effective Policies and Financial Mechanisms for Energy Efficiency in Buildings", organised by the JRC Institute for Energy (IE) on 3-5 June 2008 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, has been very successful with over 60 participants, from the new EU Member States (apart Malta), and a large number of Balkans countries.

The future of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies in Europe is on its way. The Council adopted, on the 30th May 2008, the regulation setting up the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. This public-private joint technology initiative (JTI) will implement the EU target-oriented research and development to support the broad market introduction of these technologies.

The European Commission debated the policy responses needed to mitigate the effects of rising global fuel prices, on the 11th June 2008. Based on thier conclusions, President Barroso will present a communication, to be adopted in good time to be discussed at the European Council on 19-20 June in conjunction with the recent Commission communication on rising food prices.

At the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007, the G-8 acknowledged an EU proposal for an international initiative on energy efficiency tabled in March 2007, and agreed to explore, together with the International Energy Agency, the most effective means to promote energy efficiency internationally. A year later, on 8 June 2008, the G8 countries, China, India, South Korea and the European Community decided to establish the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation, at the Energy Ministerial meeting hosted by Japan in the frame of the 2008 G8 Presidency, in Aomori.

This Energy Council will be held on Friday 6 June, in Luxembourg. It will start at 10.00 and last the whole day, depending on the outcome of the discussions. It will be followed by a press conference.

The future of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies in Europe is on its way. The Council adopted, on the 30th May 2008, the regulation setting up the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. This public-private joint technology initiative (JTI) will implement the EU target-oriented research and development to support the broad market introduction of these technologies. Founding members are the European Community and a non-profit association of European industry interests composed of a major share of Europe's fuel cells and hydrogen companies of all sizes from micro to large multinationals. The Commission is expected to fund 470 M€ from the Seventh Framework Programme for a period of six years which will be at least matched by industry contributions. The first calls for proposals are expected to be published after this summer. The official celebration of the launch will be at the JTI's first Stakeholders' General Assembly the 14 and 15 of October this year in Brussels.

Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs welcomed, on the 30th May 2008, the EEX and Powernext joint venture as a step forward in creating a well-functioning market. In a press conference organised on the 30th May in Brussels to present the new cooperation between German and French spot markets for electricity.

Stop exploiting energy “as if there's no tomorrow”. This – as articulated by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan – was the key message of Tuesday's conference on energy efficiency, attended by EP President Hans Gert Pöttering and 1990 Nobel laureate Mikhail Gorbachev. “More effective energy use is something we can easily achieve”, said Mr Pöttering, launching the Global Energy Conference on awareness-raising and energy efficiency.

The Industry Committee is insisting that the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators - proposed as part of the energy package - should have regulatory powers, contrary to the Commission's original plan. On Wednesday 28th May 2008, Committee voted on three related first-reading reports, overwhelming majorities on the committee backed a strong decision-making role for the Agency.