Energie-efficiëntie is prioriteit van Deens EU-voorzitterschap (en)
On Tuesday 14 February EU's Ministers for Energy will meet for one of the key important negotiations during the Danish Presidency and try to agree on how to reduce Europe's consumption of energy by 20 percent by the year 2020.
According to calculations by the European Commission, the Member States of the European Union will only reduce their energy consumption by 10 percent by the year 2020 - unless new initiatives are taken. The European Commission has therefore presented the Energy Efficiency Directive, which is to close the gap, so that the European Union's goal of 20 percent energy efficiency by the year 2020 can be fulfilled.
The meeting will be chaired by Minister for Climate, Energy and Building Martin Lidegaard, who is looking forward to the meeting.
"It will be a very important meeting. Energy efficiency is a priority for the Danish Presidency because implementing this directive will contribute to a greener Europe and help to create growth, improve competitiveness and create jobs in Europe. Investing in energy efficiency is money well spent."
The goal of the Council Meeting is that Member States will come closer to a common position, ensuring that the negotiations with the European Parliament can begin. The Heads of State and Government of the European Union have, as of the 30th of January, encouraged that the negotiations will be finalized before the end of the Danish Presidency.
"The Heads of State and Government of the European Union have asked the Ministers for Energy to reach an agreement concerning the directive before the end of the Danish Presidency - we will work strenuously to make this happen. I hope to receive support for the coming negotiations from my colleagues on Tuesday" Martin Lidegaard says.
The ministers will also discuss energy infrastructure. A considerable expansion and improvement of transmission lines and storage facilities is necessary in order to make the most out of energy across Europe. The meeting will begin with a discussion of criteria for selecting energy infrastructure projects of common interest.
The contribution of energy efficiency and renewable energy to growth and employment in the context of the European Union's Europe 2020 Strategy concerning intelligent, sustainable and inclusive growth will also be on the agenda.
Finally, the Presidency and the European Commission will inform the Council on the status of the negotiations concerning setting up an information exchange mechanism with regard to intergovernmental agreements between Member States and third countries in the field of energy, energy aspects of the UN Conference on sustainable development - Rio+20, external energy relations and the formation of the Electricity Coordination Group.