ZEI Monitor: EU Progress 2014-2019
ZEI follows policy progress in the ten areas which have priority for EU institutions over the period 2014-2019:
Commission Priority: A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward Looking Climate Change Policy
Objectives
Creating a European Energy Union – by pooling resources, connecting networks and uniting our power when negotiating with non EU countries
Diversifying our energy sources – so Europe can quickly switch to other supply channels if the financial or political cost of importing from the East becomes too high
Helping EU countries become less dependent on energy imports
Making the EU the world number one in renewable energy and leading the fight against global warming
European Commission Work Program:
2019
| Implementation of the Paris Agreement |
| Completing the Energy Union
On the 17th of April 2019, the Directive (EU) 2019/692 amending Directive 2009/73 / EC concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas entered into force. The purpose of this Directive is to remove obstacles to the completion of the internal market in natural gas resulting from non-application of EU market rules on gas pipelines from third countries and third countries. With the amendments introduced by this Directive, the EU legislator wishes to ensure that the rules applicable to gas pipelines between two or more EU member states also apply to gas pipelines in the Union from third countries and to third countries. The amended directive is based on a bill proposed by the European Commission on the 8th of November 2017 (see ZEI Monitor 2017). |
| Future of Energy and Climate policy
On the 2nd of July 2019, the Council of the European Union granted the European Commission the mandate to negotiate the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECV). The mandate includes the negotiating directives. The aim of the modernised ECV, according to the Council, should be to facilitate sustainable investments between the ECV Contracting Parties in the field of energy by creating a coherent and timely, legally binding framework that provides legal certainty and guarantees a high degree of investment protection. The modernised ECV should clarify that the EU may require market operators from third countries operating in the internal market to comply with existing Union and member state legislation, including those concerning environmental protection and safety. |
| Energy efficiency targets – preparing for Brexit |
2018
0000 | Completing the Energy Union
On the 11th of December 2018, three pieces of legislation went into effect that are associated with the goal of building an Energy Union and the giving the EU's response to climate change: 1. the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, amending Regulations (EC) No 663/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009, Directives 94/22/EC, 98/70/EC, 2009/31/EC, 2009/73/EC, 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and 2013/30/EU, Council Directives 2009/119/EC and (EU) 2015/652 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 2. the Directive (EU) 2018/2002 amending Directive 2012/27/EU on Energy Efficiency
On the 30th of May 2018, three pieces of climate policy legislation went into effect:
On the 25th of January 2018, EU member states agreed on the European Commission's proposal to invest 873 million euro in 17 key European energy infrastructure projects financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). Properly interconnected electricity lines and gas pipelines form the backbone of an integrated European energy market anchored on the principle of solidarity. (More) |
2017
0000 | Implementation of the Energy Union Strategy: Low-Emission Travel and Mobility
On the 13th of December 2017, the Regulation to revise the EU Emission Trading System, making it fit for tackling CO2 emissions from aviation came into effect. The proposal amends Directive 2003/87/EC in order to continue current limitations of scope for aviation activities and to prepare to implement a global market - based measure from 2021.
On the 25th of October 2017, the Regulation concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply and repealing Regulation (EU) No 994/2010 went into force. It is based on a Commission proposal from the 16th of February 2016 (see ZEI Monitor below).
On the 5th of April 2017, the Decision on new rules for increasing the transparency and compliance with EU law of intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) in the field of energy that EU countries sign with non-EU countries. These rules closely follow a proposal made by the European Commission in February 2016 (see ZEI Monitor for 2016). Under the new rules, EU member states have to submit draft IGAs with non-EU countries in the gas and oil sector to the Commission and notify of their intention to negotiate such agreements. (More)
On the 3rd of February 2017, the European Commission put forward a Proposal for a Regulation to revise the EU Emission Trading System, making it fit for tackling CO2 emissions from aviation. The proposal amends Directive 2003/87/EC in order to continue current limitations of scope for aviation activities and to prepare to implement a global market - based measure from 2021. This comes following an agreement by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to stabilise international aviation emissions. The system will require airlines to monitor and report their annual CO2 emissions on international routes and offset those exceeding 2020 levels. (More) |
2016
| Energy Union Package
On the 19th of January 2016, the member states agreed on a Commission proposal to invest €217 million in key trans-European energy infrastructure projects. In total, 15 projects, helping to increase energy security in the EU, were selected following a call for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), an EU funding programme for infrastructure. (More)
On the 16th of February 2016 the Commission presented a package of energy security measures as one of the cornerstones of the Energy Union strategy. The goal of these proposals is to bring more transparency to the European energy market and create more solidarity between the member states: (More) 1. Proposal for a Regulation to safeguard security of gas supply 2. Proposal for a Decision on establishing an information exchange mechanism with regard to intergovernmental agreements between member states and third countries 3. Communication on an EU strategy for liquefied natural gas and gas storage 4. Communication on an EU Strategy on Heating and Cooling
On the 20th of July 2016, the European Commission presented a package of measures to accelerate the transition to low-carbon emissions in all sectors of the economy in Europe. The proposals put forward present binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets for member states from 2021-2030 for the transport, buildings, agriculture, waste, land-use and forestry sectors as contributors to EU climate action. (More) 1. Proposal for a Regulation on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by member states from 2021 to 2030 to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement
Communication on a European Strategy for Low-Emission Mobility
On the 30th of November 2016, the European Commission presented its "Winter Package" on energy policy in order to keep the EU competitive during the energy transition. The proposed measures are predominantly designed to modify existing energy law: (More) 1. Proposal for a Regulation on an internal market for electricity 2. Proposal for a Directive on common rules for the internal market in electricity 3. Proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators 4. Proposal for a Regulation on risk-preparedness in the electricity sector and repealing Directive 2005/89/EC 5. Proposal for Directive amending Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency 6. Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings 7. Proposal for a Directive on the Renewable Energy Directive 8. Proposal for a Regulation on Energy Union governance
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2015
| Strategic Framework for Energy Union On the 25th of February 2015 the College of Commissioners approved the Framework Strategy for a Resilient Energy Union. Setting out the detailed steps the Juncker Commission will take to achieve it including new legislation and funding. (More) The European Council discussed the Framework Strategy on the 19th of March 2015 and agreed to establish an Energy Union. More detailed proposals will now be developed by the Commission in consultation with the other EU institutions. Legislative proposals are expected in early 2016. (More) On the 08th of June 2015, the EU Commission and the Baltic Sea Region countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding modernising and strengthening the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan. At the same time, 12 European countries signed a declaration for regional cooperation on security of electricity supply within the European internal market. (More) On the 18th of November 2015, the EU Commission for the first time published the State of the Energy Union Report. It looks at the progress made over the last nine months and identifies key action areas for 2016 whilst providing policy conclusions at Member State, regional and European level. (More)
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| A Multilateral response to Climate Change On the 25th of February 2015 the College of Commissioners approved the European Commission Communication: The Paris Protocol – A Blueprint for tackling global climate change beyond 2020. The Communication sets out the EU vision for the global climate agreement in Paris in December 2015.(More) On the 20th of October 2015, the EU Commission along with the European Environment Agency released the "Trends and Projections in Europe 2015" report which suggests that greenhouse gas emissions in Europe decreased by 23% between 1990 and 2014 and reached the lowest levels on record. (More) On the 25th of November 2015, the European Commission presented its position and objectives ahead of the United Nations climate change conference (COP21) that takes place in Paris between the 30th of November and the 11th of December. (More) The first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal was adopted on the 12th of December 2015. It sets out a global action plan to limit global warming to well below 2°C. The European Union played a key role in brokering this historic agreement during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference held in Paris. (More) On the 4th of March 2016 the European Commission presented an assessment of the implications for the European Union of the new global climate agreement adopted in Paris in December 2015. The assessment looks at the next steps in the process and how the Paris Agreement will be implemented in the EU. Furthermore, European Commission will present during the next 12 months the key remaining legislative proposals to implement the EU 2030 climate & energy framework. (More) On the 22th of April 2016 the EU signed the global Paris Climate Agreement. It will enter into force after ratification from at least 55 countries accounting together for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions (More). On the 10th of June 2016 the European Commission presented a proposal for the European Union to ratify the Paris Agreement. This proposal has been sent for approval to the European Parliament and the Council. The consent of European Parliament is required prior to the adoption of the decision by the Council. In parallel the EU Member States will ratify the Paris Agreement individually, in accordance with their national parliamentary processes. (More) On the 4th of October 2016, the European Parliament approved the ratification of the Paris Agreement by the European Union. (More)
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ZEI Insights
 | EU@60 – Domestic Climate and Energy Possibilities for Securing Europe’s Energy Future by Michale Amoah Awuah No.49 May 2017 (Download) |
| The EU Commission’s Energy Security Package: A Challenge To Russia’s Gas Dominance? By Robert Stüwe No. 37 April 2016 (Download) |
| Post-Lima headaches: Which role for the EU heading towards Paris? by Rike Sohn No.12 February 2015 (Download) |
| New Commission brings new energy policy approach by Nikola Veselinovic No. 16 February 2015 (Download) |
| It was the best of times, it was the worst of times - Opportunities and Challenges of European Energy and Climate Policy by Christina Wunder No. 3 December 2014 (Download) |
Further Publications
Energy Policy
Robert Stüwe, EU External Energy Policy in Natural Gas: A Case of Neofunctionalist Integration? (ZEI Discussion Paper C241) Bonn, 2017 (Abstract) (Download)
Günther H. Oettinger, Europeanising EU Energy Policy (ZEI Disucssion Paper C202) Bonn 2010 (Download)
Klaus W. Grewlich, Pipelines, Drogen, Kampf ums Wasser - greift die EU-Zentralasien-Strategie? Neues „Great Game“ von Afghanistan bis zum Kaspischen Meer? (ZEI Discussion Paper C200) Bonn 2010( Download)
Energy Law
