EU-lidstaten willen betere bescherming energievoorraden (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Pools voorzitterschap Europese Unie 2e helft 2011 i, gepubliceerd op vrijdag 25 november 2011.

‘The Member States’ adoption of the conclusions on energy cooperation is a major achievement of the Polish Presidency. It will truly enhance the security of energy supply in Europe,’noted Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Waldemar Pawlak following the latest session of the EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council. The meeting of energy ministers took place in Brussels on 24th November.

The document adopted by the participants elaborates the market rules in external relations, key infrastructure projects designed to facilitate imports of raw materials and cooperation of Member States in such international forums as the IEA andIRENA. Agreement on the external dimension of energy policy was a top priority of the Polish Presidency.

Pawlak disclosed that the energy ministers had discussed a new regulation on transmission infrastructure. The draft contains proposals on ways of accelerating the issuance of permits, a mechanism for the division of costs connected with trans-border projects and the introduction of pro-investment incentives. ‘The Commission has proposed that 9.1 billion euro be allocated to the Connecting Europe Facility in the years 2014-2020 for energy infrastructure investments,’the Deputy Prime Minister announced.

He opined that, first and foremost, the construction of transmission networks required the involvement of private capital. ‘By creating a favourableinvestment climate we will encourage entrepreneurs to put their money into this sector,’Pawlak argued. ‘We can take advantage here of the provisions of the third energy package, such as the establishment of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators or the collaboration of regulators within the ENTSO network.’

Pawlak revealed that the ministers had endorsed a Polish Presidency report devoted to the workover the past several months on a draft directive concerning energy efficiency. ‘We have agreed on the areas where further work is needed to reduce energy use,’the Deputy Prime Minister stressed. ‘After today's meeting we will redraft the directive and present it in the first half of December.’