European Commission presents second EU Strategic Energy Review
The European Commission on November 13 proposed its second Strategic Energy Review to build up energy solidarity among Member States and a new policy on energy networks to stimulate investment in more efficient, low-carbon energy networks. The Review includes a new new EU Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan as well as a package of energy efficiency proposals such as reinforcing the key energy efficiency legislation on buildings and energy-using products, and enhancing the role of energy performance certificates as well as inspection reports for heating and air-conditioning systems. To improve efficiency in energy supply, the Commission has adopted guidelines to enable the uptake of electricity generation from highly efficient cogeneration installations. In 2009, the Commission plans a thorough evaluation of the 2006 European Action Plan for Energy Efficiency.
Tfirst priority identified in the Review is to adopt and rapidly implement the measures to reach European Council energy policy targets for Europe aiming at a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 20% share for renewables in final energy consumption and a 20% saving in future energy demand by 2020. This climate change package, proposed by the Commission in January 2008, needs to be agreed by the Council and Parliament in the coming weeks. The new rules coming out of the package will also create a more stable, consistent and transparent environment for new energy investments.
The second priority is to address Europe’s energy supply security. Even when the renewable energy policy goals are reached, Europe is likely to be dependent on more imports than today, according to the Commission. The EU needs to improve the current policies to achieve its energy efficiency objective.