The Energy Union: It’s now or never for a European energy policy

The Energy Union: It’s now or never for a European energy policy

Press quote (Energy Post)
Stephen Tindale
18 February 2015
From 
http://www.energypost.eu/energy-union-now-never-european-energy-policy/
Stephen Tindale, energy specialist at the pro-European British think tank Centre for European Reform (CER), is even more critical. “There is no chance we will have a European energy policy”, he says. “In an ideal world we would have it. But the differences between the Member States are too large, for example in renewables or nuclear power.”

He points out that the European target of 27% renewable energy, which was embraced in October last year by the EU, is only binding at EU level, and will not be divided between member states. “The only real binding target we have for 2030 is 40% less CO2 emissions compared to 1990. That is achievable if you reform the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). Then you have a European climate policy, but still not a European energy policy.”According to Tindale, there is one man who will be decisive in how the Energy Union will be developed in the coming months. That’s not Šefčovič, but Frans Timmermans, the First Vice-President of the new Commission, in charge of “better regulation”. “His attitude will decide whether the Energy Union will have any substance to it or not.”

What Timmermans could do, says Tindale, is three things. One: establish emission performance standards for new and perhaps even existing power plants, as Obama is doing in the US. “So new coal power plants cannot be built.” Two: set a price floor for the EU ETS. Three: introduce stricter European norms for air quality, which would have a large impact on the transport sector.”