THIS WEBSITE IS AN ONLINE ARCHIVE OF THE DANISH EU PRESIDENCY 2012 AND WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED

EU Energy Policy

The EU pursues an ambitious energy policy to ensure a cohesive and sustainable energy system in Europe. The energy policy is based on action plans, strategies and targets in order to ensure an energy-efficient Europe with focus on the development of new energy technologies.

During the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, a number of dossiers in the energy area will dominate the work of the Council. Below you can read more about these matters and the EU’s energy policy.

The Energy Efficiency Directive

The proposal is to contribute to ensuring that the EU reaches its target of a 20 per cent improvement in energy efficiency by 2020 so that the EU can reach its long-term climate and energy target in a cost-effective manner.

Important elements in the proposal include guidelines for public procurement and energy renovation of public buildings, energy-saving regulations and energy production efficiency; as well as furthering cogeneration, energy auditing and more information to consumers.

Energy road map 2050

The Danish EU Presidency will work towards an agreement by the European Council on how the EU is to work towards a greener energy policy in the forthcoming decades.

In December 2011, the Commission  submitted a road map indicating the paths EU Member States can follow to fulfil the long-term vision of a low-carbon and resource-efficient energy system by 2050, and at the same time ensure long-term security of supply in Europe.

The goal of the road map is to illustrate that there is a need for a visionary common policy for developing the European energy infrastructure, energy efficiency, and sustainable energy; and it will be closely coupled with the development of the EU’s climate policy.

Proposal for regulation on safety of offshore oil and gas activities

As a response to, i.a., the "Deepwater Horizon" disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the Commission has submitted a proposal for a regulation which intends to enhance the safety of offshore oil and gas activities. The operators should be able to prevent major accidents in offshore oil and gas operations through various concrete actions.

A strengthened preparedness and response capacity should also be established to deal with emergencies if accidents do occur.

The proposal also contains requirements for public participation when processing offshore licences, as is already the case in the environmental field. The Danish Presidency wants to ensure that the negotiations get off to a good start during the spring of 2012.

 

The future of energy infrastructure

The expansion of the energy infrastructure is paramount if the EU’s internal energy market is to function optimally. This has a bearing upon the energy supply security in all of Europe. The expansion of the electrical power network is also crucial in order to integrate and rationally exploit the increasing share of sustainable energy.

A large part of the infrastructure expansion will be on commercial terms, but there is also a need for EU funding. These proceedings are therefore very closely coupled to the negotiations on the EU’s financial framework for the 2014-2020 period.

This extensive proposal contains financial elements as well as elements related to the legislative framework for setting up power plants. The Danish EU Presidency wants to ensure that substantial progress is made in the negotiations on this proposal.

Framework for energy agreements with third countries

As globalisation increases, EU Member States will to an increasing degree enter into trade and energy agreements with parties outside the EU. The European Commission has proposed that an information exchange mechanism be put into place to ensure that the rules of the internal market are complied with, and in order to strengthen the transparency and solidarity that can place the Member States in the best possible negotiating position.

The proposal will be negotiated during the Polish Presidency, and the Danish Presidency will carry on these negotiations in order to have the proposal adopted as soon as possible.

The EU's role in energy policy
Energy production, energy consumption and energy trade play an increasing role in a society’s overall economic framework and opportunities. At the same time, the decisions on energy policy made by one Member State will have inevitable consequences for other Member States.

The EU has an important role in creating a cohesive and forward-looking energy policy effort. The effort must ensure the future security of energy supply for the EU’s citizens and enterprises.

Energy targets and strategies
The EU’s energy policy is built up around a number of action plans, strategies and targets that facilitate cross-border trade, competitiveness, security of supply and increased sustainability in the energy supply:

  • Energy Strategy 2020 
  • Energy Roadmap 2050
  • The internal energy market

Energy Strategy 2020 is a cornerstone of the EU’s energy policy and was adopted in 2011 by the EU’s heads of state and government. Energy Strategy 2020 is to contribute to achieving the EU’s 2020 target of 20 per cent renewable energy in 2020 and an energy efficiency level of 20 per cent in 2020. The strategy prepares the ground for initiatives within the following areas:

  • An energy-efficient Europe
  • A pan-European integrated energy market
  • A focus on developing energy technologies
  • Consumer protection 
  • An enhanced external dimension to the EU’s energy policy

The EU’s Energy Roadmap 2050 was presented by the Commission in autumn 2011. The plan introduces various paths for achieving the long-term objectives of the EU’s energy policy.

The Energy Roadmap focuses particularly on how energy security and competitiveness can be improved throughout the transition to a low-carbon energy system. The plan adheres closely to the Commission’s Roadmap for the transition to a low-carbon society 2050.

The internal energy market is an important focus area of the EU’s energy policy. In order to reach the long-term energy policy targets, the European energy infrastructure must be expanded even more than it is today through instruments such as the Energy Infrastructure Package, on which the Danish Presidency will strive to achieve an agreement.

Regulatory framework for the energy sector
With the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU received a specific legal framework for the energy sector that describes the objective and decision-making procedure for the EU’s energy policy. The Treaty contributes to firmly establishing the energy policy as a common EU matter to an even greater degree.

Specifically, the EU’s energy policy is regulated through a number of EU directives and regulations that concretise the EU’s broad action plans and specific targets for the energy policy, particularly regarding the internal energy market. The directives and regulations are to facilitate cross-border trade, ensure competitive prices, higher service standards and increased security of supply and sustainability.

Here you can find more information about the EU’s energy policy

The Energy website of the European Commission

European Energy Strategy 2020

Energy Roadmap 2050