About: Kadri Simson

EU ministers back 40% renewable energy target for 2030
EU ministers provisionally agreed on Monday (27 June) to ensure the share of renewables in the bloc's energy mix reaches 40% by 2030 – despite the fact that the objective is now rendered outdated by new proposals tabled since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
EU mettle to be tested as governments turn to energy efficiency
Amidst an unprecedented energy crisis, governments around the world have come to appreciate the benefits offered by the hitherto marginalised energy efficiency policies and have endorsed joint action.
IEA presents energy efficiency push to make Russia’s gas, oil obsolete
With the world facing an almost unprecedented energy crisis, the International Energy Agency (IEA) aims to once again put energy efficiency at the forefront of policymakers’ agenda.
EU needs ‘more urgency’ in replacing Russian gas, say liberals
The EU must speed up the replacement of Russian gas in its energy mix and dramatically increase investment in renewable energy infrastructure, senior liberal political leaders said on Friday (3 June).
France leads calls to reform ‘absurd’ EU energy market
Reforming an "absurd" European electricity market still dependent on the price of fossil fuels is one of France's medium-term projects to achieve energy independence, as explained by French economy minister Bruno Le Maire.
10 measures the EU should adopt to reduce Russian gas dependency
The International Energy Agency has presented the EU with 10 measures to reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas within a year, without it having to abandon its environmental objectives set out in the Green Deal. EURACTIV France reports.
EU will consider making countries fill gas storage – energy chief
The European Union will consider whether to require member states to fill their natural gas storage to prescribed levels, a senior official said as the bloc seeks energy security amid fears of a conflict in Ukraine involving major supplier Russia.
Von der Leyen: Growing evidence Kremlin is using ‘gas supplies as political leverage’
Despite record demand and high gas prices in European markets, Russia's state-owned Gazprom has been exporting historically low amounts of gas to the EU, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday (7 February).
EU eyes more Azeri gas amid high bills and tight Russian supplies
The European Union is seeking more natural gas from Azerbaijan, an EU official said, as Europe grapples with high energy bills and tight deliveries from Russia, which has been at loggerheads with the West over Ukraine.
EU’s Simson calls for ‘gearshift’ in nuclear power investments
The EU's energy commissioner, Kadri Simson, called for a "gearshift on investments" in nuclear power in order to extend the lifetime of existing power plants and maintain current production levels until 2050. EURACTIV France reports.
EU outlines short and long-term answer to global energy price surge
The European Commission unveiled on Wednesday (13 October) a “toolbox” of measures EU countries will be able to draw from when responding to rising energy prices in the short term, while pointing to an upcoming gas market reform for measures to be considered in the long term.
Germany’s SPD pushes for inclusion of gas in EU green finance taxonomy
The role of gas in the energy transition should be reflected in the EU’s green finance taxonomy, according to the economy and energy spokesperson of Germany's social democratic SPD party, which is expected to lead the next German government coalition.
EU looking into complaints that Russia stoking gas price surge
The European Commission is looking into complaints by some EU countries that Russia is using its position as a major supplier to propel the soaring price of gas in Europe, the bloc's energy policy chief said on Tuesday (6 October).
EU biofuel reform plan risks undermining waste-based fuels: industry
The European Commission's proposal to halt advanced biofuels from being double-counted towards road transport energy targets would diminish the use of waste-based fuels in favour of cheaper crop-based biofuels, a leading industry organisation has told EURACTIV.
EU drops ‘accounting trick’ to boost green fuel in road transport
The biofuels industry has welcomed the European Commission's proposal to end the statistical inflation of waste-based biofuels in the EU's road transport energy mix, a practice they say camouflaged the use of fossil fuels.
EU to target industry, transport in renewable energy rules
An upcoming overhaul of European Union renewable energy regulations will include measures targeting transport and industry, where the use of emissions-free energy sources are lagging, the bloc's energy policy chief said on Wednesday (26 May).
Energy-efficient buildings should be ‘new normal’, says EU’s Simson
The European commissioner for energy, Kadri Simson, on Tuesday (20 April) underlined the importance of the 'Renovation Wave' strategy in combating energy poverty in the European Union, saying that sustainable, energy-efficient buildings should be "the new normal".
ETS revision will include buildings and road transport, EU Commissioner says
The European Commission's upcoming June package of energy and climate laws will “propose the extension of the emission trading scheme to sectors such as building and road transport,” the EU's energy commissioner Kadri Simson said on Thursday (25 March).
Green fuels and gases will be subject to sustainability certification, EU says
The EU's energy commissioner, Kadri Simson, has revealed details of upcoming fuel legislation, saying a certification scheme for renewable and low-carbon fuels and gases is on the horizon.
Reactions: Deal on EU’s 2030 climate target is a big step, but won’t close the gap to 2050
EU heads of states have agreed on a 55% reduction target for greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, but the inclusion of carbon sinks and the choice of 1990 as the baseline year have led environmentalists to criticise the deal for lacking ambition.
EU Commission charts path towards 100% renewable hydrogen
The European Commission unveiled plans on Wednesday (8 July) to promote hydrogen based entirely on renewable electricity like wind and solar, but said low-carbon hydrogen derived from fossil fuels will also be supported in order to scale up production in the short term.
EU set to slightly surpass 2030 renewable energy goal
The European Union looks set to slightly beat its goal to get a third of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, but public support will be needed to offset a drop in clean power investment due to COVID-19, the bloc's top energy official said.
Brussels’ anti-climate-dumping quest in the spotlight
EU trade and industry ministers weighed into a discussion on a carbon border tax on Thursday (27 February), as the bloc’s internal market chief said the tariff will be ready to deploy “as soon as possible”.