Commission publishes Energy Union Winter Package
On November 30, the European Commission unveiled its Energy Union Winter Package, described as the “Clean Energy for All Europeans” package. It consists of a range of legislative proposals relating to energy policy, aimed at supporting the European transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Commission wants the EU to lead the clean energy transition, not only adapt to it. For this reason the EU has committed to cut CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030 while modernising the EU’s economy and delivering on jobs and growth for all European citizens. The proposals have three main goals: putting energy efficiency first, achieving global leadership in renewable energies and providing a fair deal for consumers.
Vice-President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič said: “Today’s package will boost the clean energy transition by modernising our economy. Having led global climate action in recent years, Europe is now showing example by creating the conditions for sustainable jobs, growth and investment. Today’s proposals touch upon all clean energy related sectors: research and innovation, skills, buildings, industry, transport, digital, finance to name but a few. These measures will equip all European citizens and businesses with the means to make the most of the clean energy transition.”
Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said: “Our proposals provide a strong market pull for new technologies, set the right conditions for investors, empower consumers, make energy markets work better and help us meet our climate targets. I’m particularly proud of the binding 30% energy efficiency target, as it will reduce our dependency on energy imports, create jobs and cut more emissions. Europe is on the brink of a clean energy revolution. And just as we did in Paris, we can only get this right if we work together. With these proposals, the Commission has cleared the way to a more competitive, modern and cleaner energy system. Now we count on European the Parliament and our Member States to make it a reality.”
Clean energies in 2015 attracted global investment of over 300 billion euros. The EU is well placed to use research, development and innovation policies to turn this transition into a concrete industrial opportunity. By mobilising up to 177 billion euros of public and private investment per year from 2021, this package can generate up to a 1% increase in GDP over the next decade and create 900,000 new jobs.
The Clean Energy for All Europeans legislative proposals cover energy efficiency, renewable energy, the design of the electricity market, security of electricity supply and governance rules for the Energy Union. In addition the Commission proposes a new way forward for Ecodesign as well as a strategy for connected and automated mobility.
The package also includes actions to accelerate clean energy innovation and to renovate Europe’s buildings. It provides measures to encourage public and private investment, promote EU industrial competitiveness and mitigate the societal impact of the clean energy transition. We are also exploring ways in which the EU can show further leadership in clean energy technology and services to help non-EU countries achieve their policy goals.
Related documents
Clean Energy For All Europeans
- Communication on ‘Clean Energy For All Europeans’
| Annex 1: Accelerating clean energy in Buildings | Annex 2: Action to boost the clean energy transition
Electricity market and consumers
- Proposal for a revised electricity regulation | Annex 1 | Annex 2
- Proposal for a revised electricity Directive | Annexes 1-4
- Proposal for a revised regulation on a European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) | Annex
- Proposal for a new regulation on risk preparedness in the electricity sector | Annex
- Impact assessment on the revised rules for the electricity market, risk preparedness and ACER | Annexes
- Evaluation of the electricity market design and security of supply: Part 1 | Part 2 | Executive summary
- Sector inquiry on capacity mechanisms – report
- Sector inquiry on capacity mechanisms – staff working document
Energy Efficiency Directive
- Proposal for a revised energy efficiency Directive | Annex
- Evaluation of the EU Framework for Metering and Billing of Energy Consumption | Executive summary
- Evaluation of Articles 6 and 7 of the energy efficiency Directive | Executive summary
- Good practices in energy efficiency: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
- Impact assessment of the revised energy efficiency Directive: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Executive summary
Energy efficiency of buildings
- Proposal for a revised energy performance of buildings Directive | Annex
- Evaluation of the energy performance of buildings Directive | Executive summary
- Impact assessment of the revised energy performance of buildings Directive | Executive summary
Ecodesign
- Communication on an eco-design working plan 2016-2019
- Regulation on eco-design requirements for air heating and cooling products and chillers | Annexes 1-5
- Impact assessment on the regulation on eco-design requirements for heating and cooling products and chillers | Executive summary
- Regulation on tolerances in verification procedures for all eco-design measures | Annexes 1-25
- Regulation on tolerances in verification procedures for all eco-labelling measures | Annexes 1-15
- Guidelines on eco-design self-regulation measures for industry | Annex
- Decision for an eco-design and eco-labelling standardisation request for solid fuel boilers | Annexes 1-2
- Decision for an eco-design and eco-labelling standardisation request for local space heaters | Annex
Renewables & bioenergy sustainability
- Proposal for a revised renewable energy Directive | Annexes 1-12
- Evaluation of the renewable energy Directive | Executive summary
- Impact assessment of the revised renewable energy Directive: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
- Impact assessment of the revised renewable energy Directive – sustainability of bioenergy
- Executive summaries of the impact assessment: Part 1 | Part 2 – sustainability of bioenergy
Governance
- Proposal for a regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union | Annexes 1-11
- Impact assessment on the Governance of the Energy Union | Executive summary
- Fitness check of existing EU energy legislation | Executive summary
Energy prices and costs
- Report on energy prices and costs in Europe
- Report on energy prices and costs in Europe – staff working document Parts 1-13
Energy funding
- Report on the implementation of the European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR) and the European Energy Efficiency Fund | Annex
Innovation
Transport
Source: European Commission
Attachments
In: CLEPA News, Environment & Energy, Growth & Competitiveness