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ALDE Position on Energy Policy
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The promotion of competitive, clean and secure = energy is a key=20 objective of the ALDE Group. This means a commitment to free and fair=20 competition in the energy market and an active engagement in the = environmental=20 aspects of energy policy. ALDE supports firm binding targets for = renewable=20 energy and energy efficiency.
The liberalisation of energy markets and the = completion of the=20 internal market for energy has always been one of the key objectives of = ALDE. A=20 truly European energy market means real and fair competition that = benefits=20 consumers. The Group has actively pushed for energy liberalisation, e.g. = in the=20 2006 Parliament report on the Trans European Energy Networks = (electricity and=20 natural gas), with ALDE MEP Anne Laperrouze as the EP rapporteur. The = report=20 aimed to diversify and improve the security of the European Union's = energy=20 supply by forging stronger links with non-EU countries and integrating = the=20 networks of the new Member States.
The ALDE Group has welcomed the so-called Third = Liberalisation=20 Package that was presented by the Commission 2007. ALDE MEPs have called = for=20 effective unbundling of energy producers and network operators.
The process of establishing a more open and = competitive=20 internal energy market must also take account of the more general = objectives of=20 economic and social cohesion. It should go hand-in-hand with increased = use of=20 renewable energy sources in the framework of sustainable development. =
The ALDE Group supports the EU action plan on energy = and=20 climate change. It is important to address the multiple and linked = challenges=20 ahead for energy supply, environmental sustainability, research = competitiveness=20 and a consistent foreign policy.
Research and innovation in the energy area play a =
considerable=20
role: development of renewable and clean energy and of technologies for =
energy=20
saving and efficiency will reduce our energy dependence, diversify the =
energy=20
sources as well as decrease our greenhouse gas emissions.
The =
ALDE Group=20
plays a mediator role in the European Parliament by associating the =
liberal=20
market view and a strong environmental=20
policy.
Background
The "New Energy Policy for =
Europe"
In spring 2006 the European Commission presented its =
Green Paper=20
on a European strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy. =
Its=20
central element was the predicted increase of the EU's dependence on =
imported=20
resources to 70% by 2030 from the current 50% level.
In January =
2007 the=20
Commission proposed its "energy and climate change package", an action =
plan for=20
a new European Energy Policy built on a number of=20
measures:
=95 improvement of energy efficiency; =
=95 increase of the share of renewable energy and =
bio fuels=20
in the energy mix;
=95 achievement of the internal =
energy=20
market;
=95 strengthening of solidarity among the =
Member=20
States, including in the development of energy technologies;=20
=95 a renewed focus on nuclear safety and =
security.=20
The Commission also stressed the need of the EU to "speak with =
one=20
voice" with its international partners, including energy producers, =
energy=20
importers and developing countries.
The 2007 Spring European =
Council=20
agreed on the action plan and on the following binding targets to be =
achieved=20
until 2020:
=95 cut 20% of the EU=92s =
greenhouse gas=20
emissions;
=95 use 20% renewable energy sources by =
2020,=20
compared to present 6,5%;
=95 use 10% bio fuels in=20
transport;
=95 improve energy efficiency by 20% by =
2020.=20
The third liberalisation package
In =
September 2007=20
the Commission gave its proposal on a third package on liberalisation of =
energy=20
markets. Its central aim is the effective separation between the control =
over=20
electricity and gas transmission networks from supply and generation =
activities.=20
The Commission proposed "Ownership unbundling", meaning that companies =
owning=20
gas and electricity networks would not be allowed to engage in energy =
generation=20
or supply at the same time. As an alternative solution the Commission =
suggested=20
the establishment of Independent System Operators (ISO). This option =
would allow=20
energy companies to keep their network assets, but they would have to =
hand over=20
the control over their management to the ISOs. In its first reading in =
June=20
2008, the EP supported full ownership unbundling.
The integrated =
proposal for Climate Action
In January 2008 the European =
Commission=20
put forward an "integrated proposal for Climate Action" in order to =
achieve the=20
targets that were set in 2007. The proposal includes:
=95 =
An=20
update of the EU emissions trading scheme (EU-ETS) for the period after =
2013. It=20
includes expanding the scope of the ETS and replacing national =
allocation plans=20
with either auctioning or free allocation through single EU-wide=20
rules;
=95 A decision on Effort Sharing for cutting =
emissions=20
in sectors not covered by the EU-ETS (such as =
transport);
=95 =20
A directive on renewable energy. The proposed directive sets =
national=20
renewable energy targets that taken together should result in the =
overall=20
binding target of 20% in 2020. It also establishes the binding 10% =
minimum=20
target for biofuels in transport to be achieved by each Member=20
State;
=95 A communication on carbon capture and =
storage=20
(CCS).
Next=20
Steps:
The Commission proposals have been forwarded to the =
European=20
Parliament and the Council. The Parliament has started its first reading =
of the=20
proposals with a view to completing the procedure before the end of =
2008.=20
Work in Progress in the EP:
Third =
liberalisation=20
package:
Rules for the internal market in electricity
The energy and climate change =
package:
ALDE news related to Energy
Liberalized=20
energy market will bring benefits to citizens across =
Europe
M=
obile=20
chargers: the European Commission announces chargers harmonisation also =
for=20
digital cameras and music players
25/03/2009
Energy=20
Council reaches political agreement on the 2nd strategic energy=20
review
19/02/2009
Speech=20
by Graham Watson on the Laperouze report on the Second Strategic Energy =
Review=20
03/02/2009
Energy=20 Crisis: Mapping out a European Response
Time=20 for EU to assert itself over gas crisis
ALDE=20 Workshop on "Nuclear energy in Europe"
A=20
credible Energy Package for Europe, but the job is not yet=20
complete
12/11/2008
Liberals=20
& Democrats defend an ambitious Emission Trading =
Scheme
Parliament=20 backs efforts towards a renewable energy century
A=20 common market in electricity will benefit consumers
The=20 third energy package must connect Europe's 'energy islands' =
ALDE=20
seminar "Energy 'islands' in the EU - implementation of the 3rd energy=20
package"
09/04/2008
Displaying results 1 to = 15 out=20 of 23
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