Conclusies milieuraad over biodiversiteit, bodemgebruik en emissiehandel (en)
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
PROVISIONAL VERSION
PRESSE 259 PR CO 37
PRESS RELEASE 3175th Council meeting Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Energy items
Luxembourg, 15 June 2012
President Mr Martin Lidegaard,
Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Building
PROVISIONAL VERSION
CONTTS1
15.VI.2012
PARTICIPANTS................................................................................................................................4
ITEMS DEBATED
Energy infrastructure............................................................................................................................6
Safety of offshore activities..................................................................................................................7
Energy roadmap 2050 ..........................................................................................................................8
Strategy for renewable energy..............................................................................................................8
Other business......................................................................................................................................9
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
VIRONMT
— Carbon leakage......................................................................................................................................................12
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
— East Asia................................................................................................................................................................12
— Syria - restrictive measures....................................................................................................................................12
1 Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated in the heading for the item concerned and the text is placed between quotation marks. Documents for which references are given in the text are available on the Council's Internet site (http://www.consilium.europa.eu)
Acts adopted with statements for the Council minutes which may be released to the public are indicated by an asterisk; these statements are available on the Council's Internet site or may be obtained from the Press Office
PROVISIONAL VERSION
15.VI.2012
PARTICIPANTS
Belgium:
Mr Olivier BELLE Bulgaria:
Ms Evgenia HARITONOVA
Czech Republic:
Mr Martin KUBA
Denmark:
Mr Martin LIDEGAARD Mr Morten BJEK S0RS
Germany:
Mr Stefan KAPFERER Estonia:
Mr Gert ANTSU Ireland:
Mr Pat RABBITTE
Greece:
Mr Konstantinos MATfflOUDAKIS
Mr Andreas PAPASTAVROU Spain:
Mr Fernando MARTI SCHARFHAUS France:
Ms Nicole BRICQ
Italy:
Mr Claudio DE VTNCTI Cyprus:
Mr Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS Latvia:
Mr Daniels PAVLUTS Lithuania:
Mr Arvydas SEKMOKAS
Luxembourg:
Mr Etienne SCHNEIDER
Hungary:
Mr Pal KOVACS
Malta:
Mr Patrick MIFSUD
Deputy Permanent Representative
Deputy Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism
Minister for Industry and Trade
Minister for Climate, Energy and Buildings
Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Climate. Energy
and Building
State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Technology
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Secretary General , Ministry of the Environment. Energy
and Climate Change
Deputy Permanent Representative
State Secretary for Energy
Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy
State Secretary for Economic Development Minister for the Interior Minister for the Economy Minister for Energy
Minister for Economic Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister of State for Climate Change and Energy Deputy Permanent Representative
PROVISIONAL VERSION
15.VI.2012
Netherlands:
Mr Maxime VERHAG
Austria:
Mr Reinhold MITTERLEHNER
Poland:
Mr Waldemar PAWLAK Portugal:
Mr Artur TRDADE Romania:
Mr Rodin TRAICU Slovenia:
Mr Igor SALAMUN Slovakia:
Mr Tomas MALATPNSKY Finland:
Mme Marja RISLAKKI Sweden:
Ms Anna-Karin HATT
United Kingdom:
Mr Charles HDRY
Minister for Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, Deputy Prime Minister
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, the Family and Youth
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Economy State Secretary for Energy
State Secretary, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business Environment
State Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning
Minister of Economy of the Slovak Republic
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Information Technology and Regional Affairs
Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change
Commission:
Mr Günther OETTINGER Member The Governments of the Acceding States were represented as follows: Croatia:
Ms Irena ANDRASSY Deputy Permanent Representative
PROVISIONAL VERSION
15.VI.2012
ITEMS DEBATED Energy infrastructure
In a public session, the Council took note of a presidency progress report () on a draft regulation on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure
The progress report outlines the state of play on this proposal, after its examination under the Danish presidency in the Council energy working party, focusing in particular on Chapters II (projects of common interest) and IV (regulatory treatment) and the related annexes
The proposal is intended to help the EU deliver the huge investments in energy infrastructure required to replace ageing infrastructure, to ensure security of supply, to make the transition to a low-carbon economy and to complete the internal energy market
The aim is to overhaul the existing trans-European energy networks (T-E) policy and financing framework in order to improve it and adapt it to the current challenges facing the energy sector and to general EU energy policy goals. The proposal would give priority to twelve strategic trans-European energy corridors and areas and addresses in particular the selection of projects of common interest, the streamlining of authorisation procedures and cost-allocation rules
The Commission presented its proposal in October (), following the call by the European Council in February 2011 (2/1/11).
The EU funding related to this regulation is to be negotiated in the context of the "Connecting Europe Facility" financing instrument relating to the next multiannual financial framework (2014-2020). The Commission presented this proposal in June 2011 () with the aim of promoting the completion of priority energy, transport and digital infrastructures with a single fund of EUR 40 billion, of which EUR 9.1 billion is allocated to energy infrastructure. The Council agreed on a partial general approach on this proposal at its meeting of 7 June (see press release page 9). The draft regulation determines the conditions, methods and procedures for the Union's financial contribution to T projects, while the development strategies, priorities and implementation measures for each of the sectors are defined in sector-specific policy guidelines which will be adopted separately
PROVISIONAL VERSION
15.VI.2012
Safety of offshore activities
In a public session, ministers took note of a presidency progress report () on a draft regulation on the safety of offshore oil and gas prospection, exploration and production activities
The progress report outlines the main issues discussed and concerns raised by delegations during the examination of the proposal in the working party on energy. The following main issues, in particular, will require further in-depth consideration: the nature of the legal instrument since a majority of delegations have concerns with the proposed regulation; the role and competence of the competent authority; and the liability regime and delegated powers of the Commission, which proposed the use of delegated acts for adapting the annexes to the regulation to the latest developments in technologies and procedures
In Europe, most oil and gas is produced offshore. A major accident at any one of Europe's offshore installations is likely to entail material losses, damage to the environment, the economy, local communities and society, while the lives and health of workers may be put at risk. The possibility of a major accident in EU waters needs to be reduced
This proposal, adopted by the Commission in October 2011 (), is aimed at reducing the risk of a major accident in the EU offshore oil and gas sector and limiting the consequences should such an accident nonetheless occur
This aim will be achieved through the following four specific objectives:
- ensuring a consistent use of best practices for major hazards control by offshore oil and gas industry operations potentially affecting Union waters or shores;
- implementing best regulatory practices in all European jurisdictions with offshore oil and gas activities;
- strengthening the Union's preparedness and capacity to respond to emergencies potentially affecting the Union's citizens, its economy or the environment;
- improving and clarifying existing Union liability and compensation provisions
PROVISIONAL VERSION
15.VI.2012
In response to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010, the Commission presented its communication "Facing the challenge of the safety of offshore oil and gas activities" (. ADD1) in October 2010. The communication indicated first areas for action at EU level, including revision of existing legislation as well as new proposals
Building on this communication, in December 2010 the Council adopted conclusions on the safety of offshore oil and gas activities () setting out a way forward for possible further action in relation to offshore exploration and production of hydrocarbons, notably to ensure the highest possible level of safety and protection of the environment as well as provisions on liability
The European Parliament is expected to vote on its draft report in October 2012. Energy roadmap 2050
The Council examined draft conclusions on the energy roadmap 2050
The Commission communication on the energy roadmap 2050 () provides perspectives on the various routes towards decarbonisation of the European energy system by 2050. It seeks to develop a long-term stable policy framework towards low carbon emission, sustainable, competitive affordable, safe and secure energy system in 2050
The text was issued as presidency conclusions supported by 26 member states. Strategy for renewable energy
The Commission presented to ministers its new communication "Renewable energy: major player in the European energy market"
The communication was adopted by the Commission on 6 June. It explains how renewable energy is being integrated into the single market. It gives some guidance on the current framework up to 2020 and outlines possible policy options for beyond 2020, to ensure continuity and stability, thereby enabling Europe's renewable energy production to continue to grow to 2030 and beyond
For more details see http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/communication 2012 en.htm
PROVISIONAL VERSION
15.VI.2012
Other business
State of play of current legislative proposals
- Energy efficiency
The presidency briefed ministers on the agreement reached with the European Parliament on energy efficiency directive during the 6th and final trilogue that took place on the 13 June ().
For more details see press release .
- Energy Star
The presidency briefed the Council on the state of play of the two legislative proposals related to the new Energy Star Agreement with the United States on energy efficiency labelling programmes for office equipment. The agreement aims to continually reduce the energy consumption of office equipment such as computers, displays, printers, copiers et cetera (). It will cover another five year period
International relations in the field of energy
The Council was briefed by the presidency and the Commission on events and developments in international relations that have taken place during the Danish presidency, or are due to take place soon ().
The briefing included, amongst other issues, the Rio+20 UN Conference on sustainable development (Rio de Janeiro, 20-22 June), the EU-OPEC ministerial meeting (Brussels, 28 June), the EU-China High Level Meeting on Energy (Brussels, 3 May), the EU-India Summit (New Delhi, 10 February), developments in the Southern Corridor, the EU-Russia relations, the EU-Russia-Belarus negotiations, the EU-US relations and the first meeting of the Strategic Group for International Energy Cooperation (Brussels, 24 April)
PROVISIONAL VERSION
15.VI.2012
Stress tests of nuclear plants
The presidency and the Commission briefed the Council on the state of play concerning the stress tests for nuclear plants ().
The disaster at the Fukushima power plant in Japan in March 2011 put the issue of nuclear safety and security at the top of the EU's agenda and triggered a series of meetings and events. The European Council on 24-25 March (10/1/11, paragraph 31) concluded that the safety of all EU nuclear plants should be reviewed, on the basis of comprehensive and transparent risk and safety assessments
The European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (SREG) and the Commission reached agreement in May 2011 on the scope and modalities of these assessments, agreeing that a two-track process should be in place to cover safety and security. According to this agreement, the safety assessment of the nuclear plants started on 1 June and covers extraordinary triggering events like earthquakes and flooding and the consequences of any other initiating events potentially leading to a loss of safety functions requiring severe accident management and includes human and organisational factors. The AHGNS was created in July 2011 on the basis of the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) decision to deal with the security of nuclear power plants in the EU in relation to theft, sabotage, unauthorised access, unauthorised movement of nuclear material or other malicious acts
On the 26 April, the SREG endorsed the peer review board report prepared as an answer to the mandate delivered by the March 2011 European Council. The report will be sent to the June European Council for information
The Coreper took note of the final report of the AHGNS on 6 June (). The report will be brought to the attention of the June European Council
For more information on the stress test see:
http ://ec. europa, eu/energy/nuclear/safety/stress_tests_en.htm
PROVISIONAL VERSION
15.VI.2012
Presentation of the incoming presidency programme
The Cyprus delegation presented the incoming presidency's work programme in the energy sector (). Its work will focus on the legislative proposals on energy infrastructure and on the offshore safety activities, as well as on the Commission communication on renewable energy
The informal ministers meeting will take place in Nicosia on 17 September and the formal TTE (energy) Council on 3 December in Brussels
PROVISIONAL VERSION
15.VI.2012
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
VIRONMT Carbon leakage
The Council decided not to oppose the adoption of the Commission decision amending decisions /EU and /EU as regards the sectors and subsectors which are deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage ( + COR 1).
The Commission act are subject to what is known as the regulatory procedure with scrutiny. This means that now that the Council has given its consent, the Commission may adopt it, unless the European Parliament objects
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
East Asia
The Council revised the guidelines on the EU's foreign and security policy in East Asia (). Syria - restrictive measures
The Council adopted implementing legislation on certain EU sanctions against Syria: the ban on exports of luxury goods and of additional dual use goods to Syria. For details, see press release .
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