The European Commission adopted the decision on a Strategic framework for the Energy Union, Vice-President Šefčovič told European Parliament, explaining that it would send a message that Europe is “serious about a fundamental energy transition.” The strategy is the most ambitious European energy project since the European Coal and Steel Community, he said.
“The decision taken by the Commission on the Energy Union brings an important message to every European household and business: Europe is serious about a fundamental energy transition,” Šefčovič said.
An energy transition that is just and fair, an energy transition that will deliver affordable, secure, competitive and sustainable energy to all, he added.
“Today, we take a big step towards an energy market that is economically sustainable; socially inclusive; and environmental friendly. An energy market that is integrated, interconnected, resilient and secure. It is a ‘triple win’ strategy, because it will benefit citizens, businesses, and the environment,” he said.
The Energy Union, like the European project itself, is based on trust and solidarity, Šefčovič explained, adding that “Member States should in all circumstances know that they can rely on their neighbours, especially when confronted or threatened with supply disruptions.”
“In concrete terms, we will do this by developing new preventive measures and emergency plans at regional and at European levels, building on the stress tests for the gas sector. We will also ‘stress test’ electricity security of supply in the future. And we will reach out, in these efforts, to Europe’s neighbours in the Energy Community and to many other partners, to increase our energy security,” he said.
“The Strategy we have adopted is the most ambitious European energy project since the European Coal and Steel Community. It has the potential to boost Europe’s integration project the way the Coal and Steel did back in the 1950’s, and it should remind citizens – but also our companies – of the great potential of the common European market,” he said.
“A century ago, when electricity grids were laid in Europe, they were interconnecting regions across nations. We now have to do the same at the European level: we will integrate the 28 European energy markets into one,” Šefčovič added.
The EU will come with new legislation to strengthen the European regulatory framework, a necessity if we want to continue to increase cross-border energy flows and also will speed up critical infrastructure projects and monitor them much better, “because without this hardware, we will have an internal energy market only on paper,” he said.
According to the Vice President, the Comission adopted a concrete plan with fifteen action points that translate the Energy Union into concrete deliverables.
“We adopted a roadmap that provides a clear timetable for the adoption and implementation of the many initiatives – new initiatives – we have to take to establish the Energy Union. By presenting this roadmap, we bring clarity and transparency, and send a clear signal so that entrepreneurs and investors can make informed decisions,” he said.
Read the integral speech here
