The EU's goal of improving energy efficiency by 20% by 2020 should be made legally binding while setting clear objectives for 2050 to secure European energy supply, the Parliament's industry committee stated yesterday (21 January).
EU lawmakers called on member states to agree to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%, improve energy efficiency by 35% and bring the share of renewable energies to 60% of the EU's total energy consumption by 2050.
The Union already has mandatory objectives to reduce CO2 emissions and increase the share of renewables in its energy mix by 2020. The Parliament said a similar commitment should be made on energy efficiency, stressing that energy savings are "the most effective and cost-efficient way of improving" security of supply.
The approach was outlined in a report adopted in response to the European Commission's Second Strategic Energy Review. Published in November, the review addresses security of supply and sets out policy priorities for the next Commission (EurActiv 14/11/08).
Nuclear revival?
The committee also emphasised the importance of further developing nuclear power, which it said must be used "at the highest technologically possible level of safety". It called on the Commission to draw up a "specific road map for nuclear investments".
Energy solidarity
Despite suggesting many amendments to a draft report by MEP Anne Laperrouze (ALDE), MEPs agreed that the EU should speak with one voice when it came to securing energy supply. Energy efficiency was to be the number one target, but the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute - which cut off gas supplies to many Eastern European countries - was strongly reflected in the compromise document, which put greater emphasis on energy solidarity.
Lawmakers urged the Commission to submit a proposal for revising the 2004 Security of Gas Supply Directive by the end of the year, including "mandatory and effective national and EU emergency action plans". They also stressed the need for a pan-European gas grid.
Baltic and the Caspian
MEPs identified the Baltic Sea Region as a specific area in need of better integration, and called for the development of "gas and electricity interconnections through Central and South Eastern Europe along a north-south axis". They also mentioned the Caspian region, and particularly Uzbekistan and Iran, as a significant supply source for the EU "when political conditions permit".
Developing the Nabucco pipeline was supported by MEPs. However, the wording was changed to emit an original provision that this should be done in cooperation with Russia. Laperrouze said this was because many of her colleagues were not "terribly happy" about that.
The committee offered its support for the negotiation of a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Russia. A wide-ranging agreement was given greater urgency through amendments, as the draft report had simply talked about "conciliation in the dialogue" with the EU's eastern neighbour.
