European Strategic Energy Review
Type: Legislation
- First Strategic Energy Review (2007)
- Second Strategic Energy Review (2008)
- Strategic Energy Review 2009
First Strategic Energy Review (2007)
The first Strategic Review led to the European Council agreement in March 2007 on energy policy targets for Europe. Since then, the Commission has proposed a number of measures to deliver these goals, including a package of proposals to open up the EU energy market further, which by Autumn 2008 was close to adoption, a Strategic Energy Technology Plan to promote clean energy technology, new measures to improve the energy consumption of consumer goods and proposals for new compulsory targets on renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Second Strategic Energy Review (2008)
On 13 November 2008, the European Commission proposed a wide-ranging energy package which aimed to give a new boost to energy security in Europe, supporting the 20-20-20 climate change proposals which should be agreed by December 2008. The Commission put forward a new strategy to build up energy solidarity among Member States and a new policy on energy networks to stimulate investment in more efficient, low-carbon energy networks. The Commission proposed a new EU Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan which sets out five areas where more action is needed to secure sustainable energy supplies. The Commission also looked at the challenges that Europe will face between 2020 and 2050. In addition, a package of energy efficiency proposals aims to make energy savings in key areas, such as reinforcing energy efficiency legislation on buildings and energy-using products, and enhancing the role of energy performance certificates as well as inspection reports for heating and air-conditioning systems.
Following the proposals made by the Commission in its Second Strategic Energy Review tabled in November 2008 and their endorsement by the Energy Council in January and February, the European Parliament and the Spring European Council the Commission has elaborated new rules to improve security of gas supplies in the framework of the internal gas market. The proposed Regulation strengthens the existing system and ensures that all Member States and their gas market participants take well in advance effective action to prevent and mitigate the consequences of potential disruptions to gas supplies. It also creates mechanisms for Member States to work together, in a spirit of solidarity, to deal effectively with any major gas disruptions which might arise.
The Commission prepared a proposal for a Regulation concerning the security of gas supply and repealing the current Directive 2004/67/EC based on Article 95 of the Treaty.
In addition the Commission proposed greater transparency on the likely evolution of energy infrastructure in main energy sectors such as oil (including biofuels), electricity and gas, but also in related areas such as the transport and storage of carbon related to energy production. Transparency on planned and ongoing investment projects will help to assess whether there is a risk of infrastructure gaps over the coming years and will contribute to shaping a favourable climate for investment.