The two-day meeting, which starts on Monday (6 September), will first concentrate on protecting energy consumers, while Tuesday is dedicated to energy infrastructure. On that second day, ministers will also discuss energy efficiency at a behind-closed-doors lunch.
The discussion will relate to the revision of the EU's energy efficiency action plan, confirmed a spokesperson for Paul Magnette, the Belgian climate and energy minister, who is leading the talks on behalf of the Belgian EU Presidency. The European Commission is aiming to present the revised text early next year.
A mid-term revision of the 2006 action plan was scheduled for 2009, but at the time the outgoing Commission decided to leave the task to the new EU executive. One of the more controversial issues has been whether to make the EU's energy efficiency goal (20% by 2020) legally binding.
Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger said he would like the ministers to come up with a "clear, precise definition of what 20% higher efficiency means" during this meeting (EurActiv 12/07/10).
The action plan aims to meet this goal, but it is not clear how it could be measured. For instance, energy savings could be measured by reductions from a certain base-year or in relation to projected energy consumption in 2020.
At the moment, however, a binding target appears unlikely despite calls from MEPs. The European Parliament's environment committee is also scheduled to debate the revision on Monday.
Commissioner Oettinger has said he would prefer to wait until 2012 to assess whether the voluntary target is producing results before considering binding goals. Currently, the Commission concedes that the EU is only heading towards 11% energy savings at best.
The energy commissioner is also scheduled to brief the ministers on a blueprint for a European Infrastructure Plan. They will also hold a debate on financing energy infrastructure.
The Commission is currently preparing a new energy infrastructure package, due for release later this year. The package will address energy infrastructure development in the next decade, preparations for a blueprint for an offshore grid in the North Sea and smart grids.
It will also review the guidelines for trans-European networks in energy (TEN-E) in favour of a more effective financing instrument.
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