The Transport Council headed by Irish Minster for Communications, Energy and National Resources, Pat Rabitte held a public policy debate in Brussels last week, 22 February  2012.

The meeting featured a policy debate on communication on the internal energy market that the commission published in December 2012.  The debate focused on Member State priorities for the successful completion of the internal market and on identifying ways to increase the role of consumers in the EU energy market.

The debate will contribute to the preparation of the European Energy Council which will take place on 22 May which will focus on energy issues and later at the June Energy Council which will be held in Luxembourg.

Ministers were invited to focus on the main obstacles to the achievement of the Europe 2020 energy objectives and on measures in the energy sector that have the biggest potential to contribute to growth and competitiveness.

The EU’s 2020 energy policy objectives of increasing the share of renewable in final energy consumption to 20% and moving towards a 20% increase in energy efficiency are among the five targets agreed by the European Council in 2010 of the overall Europe 2020 strategy.