Reports related to this article:
Project(s): View 4 related projects in PECWeb
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) - Europe has taken its first steps toward creating an "Energy Union" that will reform how the region produces, transports and consumes energy.
The European Commission (E.C.) has announced that work is underway to radically alter Europe's energy sector through a wide-ranging series of programs that will secure energy supplies, upgrade the ageing infrastructure and increase the energy efficiency of buildings. A final version of the strategy paper for the Union will be adopted at the end of the month.
It comes at a time when continued Russian hostilities in Ukraine cast a shadow over European gas supplies. The E.C. said that "momentum for the Energy Union is here", claiming that energy security is now high on the political agenda for many Member States.
"Our current energy policies are unsustainable in every sense and in urgent need of reorganisation," admitted Vice-President for the Energy Union, Maro efčovič. "Citizens should be at the core of our energy policy. While we have a very ambitious agenda, the momentum is here and now. We will work to ensure a coherent approach to energy across different policy areas, to create more predictability. Climate, transport, industry, research, external policy, the digital economy and agriculture will be all crucial to the project. The Energy Union aims to break the silo culture where it still exists and bring all relevant players to the same table -- in short, the Energy Union will set the scene for a new way of making energy policy in Europe."
The planned Energy Union comes more than 60 years after the formation of the E.U.'s Coal and Steel Community.
The Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete added:"The Energy Union will be an ambitious project that will set a new direction and a clear long term vision for European energy and climate policy. It will not simply be a repackaging of old ideas, and will contain concrete measures to make sure the vision becomes a reality. As Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, I will be responsible for delivering many of the measures outlined in the strategy. Effective implementation will be crucial, as will full and proper enforcement of existing legislation."
Tension between Russia and Europe over its military backing of rebels in Ukraine has led to the cancellation of the $40 billion South Stream Transport gas pipeline. Russia's President, Vladimir Putin canned the project in December blaming Bulgarian reluctance as well as European Union (E.U.) pressure. For additional information, see December 3, 2014, article - Russia Scraps South Stream Natural Gas Pipeline, Chooses New Route to Turkey.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and nine international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. To contact an office in your area, visit the Industrial Info "Contact Us" page.
The European Commission (E.C.) has announced that work is underway to radically alter Europe's energy sector through a wide-ranging series of programs that will secure energy supplies, upgrade the ageing infrastructure and increase the energy efficiency of buildings. A final version of the strategy paper for the Union will be adopted at the end of the month.
It comes at a time when continued Russian hostilities in Ukraine cast a shadow over European gas supplies. The E.C. said that "momentum for the Energy Union is here", claiming that energy security is now high on the political agenda for many Member States.
"Our current energy policies are unsustainable in every sense and in urgent need of reorganisation," admitted Vice-President for the Energy Union, Maro efčovič. "Citizens should be at the core of our energy policy. While we have a very ambitious agenda, the momentum is here and now. We will work to ensure a coherent approach to energy across different policy areas, to create more predictability. Climate, transport, industry, research, external policy, the digital economy and agriculture will be all crucial to the project. The Energy Union aims to break the silo culture where it still exists and bring all relevant players to the same table -- in short, the Energy Union will set the scene for a new way of making energy policy in Europe."
The planned Energy Union comes more than 60 years after the formation of the E.U.'s Coal and Steel Community.
The Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete added:"The Energy Union will be an ambitious project that will set a new direction and a clear long term vision for European energy and climate policy. It will not simply be a repackaging of old ideas, and will contain concrete measures to make sure the vision becomes a reality. As Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, I will be responsible for delivering many of the measures outlined in the strategy. Effective implementation will be crucial, as will full and proper enforcement of existing legislation."
Tension between Russia and Europe over its military backing of rebels in Ukraine has led to the cancellation of the $40 billion South Stream Transport gas pipeline. Russia's President, Vladimir Putin canned the project in December blaming Bulgarian reluctance as well as European Union (E.U.) pressure. For additional information, see December 3, 2014, article - Russia Scraps South Stream Natural Gas Pipeline, Chooses New Route to Turkey.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and nine international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. To contact an office in your area, visit the Industrial Info "Contact Us" page.
