Page 64 - European Energy Innovation - Summer 2015 publication
P. 64
Summer 2015 European Energy Innovation
BIOENERGY
A long road to securing energy
By MEP Nils Torvalds
“Energy is essential for Europe to function. But the days of cheap energy for Europe seem to be over. The
challenges of climate change, increasing import dependence and higher energy prices are faces by all
EU members. Moreover the interdependence of EU Member States in energy, as in many other areas, is
increasing – a power failure in one country has immediate effects in the next. Europe needs to act now,
together, to deliver sustainable, secure and competitive energy.”
This is not a paragraph security a topic that the EU attitudes of Member States.
of the European cannot – and should not – avoid
Commission’s proposal in upcoming talks on the Energy Previously – especially when it
on an Energy Union, Union. comes to oil and gas supplies
although one would be inclined – Member States tend to have
to believe so. The text is from One essential challenge is to pursued their own aims and
the Commission Communication even identify a precise definition interests. There has been no
on An Energy Policy For Europe, of energy security, in order to common orientation in terms of
dating back to January 2007. pinpoint policies and measures external energy policies, which
Indeed, the similarities are aimed at increasing security of has been reflected in the EU
striking. energy supplies. Perhaps the lack foreign policy related to energy
of energy security is easier to issues. It is only in recent years
The work on strengthened define. The potential threats to this has begun to change, with a
EU energy policies have been energy supplies are very context number of energy agreements
ongoing for long, and the bound, and change shapes and and infrastructure projects, such
objectives seem to have remained faces over time. It’s a mixture of as gas pipes, with third countries.
similar, even identical, for at least geopolitics, international (and Yet, progress has been far from
a decade. However, the world has internal) markets, but climate easy, and far from solving all
changed in many ways during change and environmental problems. The unrest in many
this time. Many of the challenges policies are also parts of the supplying third countries makes
remain, or have transformed over package. diversifying energy supplies a
time. At the same time, one could questionable solution.
get the impression that nothing Being such a broad and
or almost nothing has been crosscutting issue, energy Increased interconnectivity
achieved during the years. security will be challenging within EU could stabilize energy
to coordinate in a decision supply significantly, but require
The Achilles heel of European making structure as complex as enormous investments for the
energy policies is nothing new: that of the EU. It will demand infrastructure needed. The
Today, the EU still imports over streamlined and coherent work drafters of the Energy Union
half of the energy it consumes. in many sectors and by many proposal have had their eyes on
One third comes from one actors. These requirements will the European Fund for Strategic
external supplier – Russia. The be very challenging - to say the Investments – or the so-called
import cost amounts to more than least - for the Commission, for “Juncker Fund” – to help pour
1 billion euros, per day. the Member States, for External money into cross border cables
Action Service, and for the and pipelines, but the issue will
The crisis in Ukraine brought Parliament. Governance will be a hardly be solved on any short-
back energy security as one of key issue, but likely also heavily term basis. Interconnectivity is
the most urgent issues on EU’s debated. Although several also desirable in order to reduce
foreign policy agenda, and the energy policies have been drawn energy prices in Europe – which
concurring crises in the Middle up before, implementation has today are among the highest
East and Northern Africa add to always been an uphill struggle. in the world – which in turn
the challenge of secure energy This will be even more critical this could foster investments and
supplies. This all makes energy time, depending heavily on the competitiveness, and ease the
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
BIOENERGY
A long road to securing energy
By MEP Nils Torvalds
“Energy is essential for Europe to function. But the days of cheap energy for Europe seem to be over. The
challenges of climate change, increasing import dependence and higher energy prices are faces by all
EU members. Moreover the interdependence of EU Member States in energy, as in many other areas, is
increasing – a power failure in one country has immediate effects in the next. Europe needs to act now,
together, to deliver sustainable, secure and competitive energy.”
This is not a paragraph security a topic that the EU attitudes of Member States.
of the European cannot – and should not – avoid
Commission’s proposal in upcoming talks on the Energy Previously – especially when it
on an Energy Union, Union. comes to oil and gas supplies
although one would be inclined – Member States tend to have
to believe so. The text is from One essential challenge is to pursued their own aims and
the Commission Communication even identify a precise definition interests. There has been no
on An Energy Policy For Europe, of energy security, in order to common orientation in terms of
dating back to January 2007. pinpoint policies and measures external energy policies, which
Indeed, the similarities are aimed at increasing security of has been reflected in the EU
striking. energy supplies. Perhaps the lack foreign policy related to energy
of energy security is easier to issues. It is only in recent years
The work on strengthened define. The potential threats to this has begun to change, with a
EU energy policies have been energy supplies are very context number of energy agreements
ongoing for long, and the bound, and change shapes and and infrastructure projects, such
objectives seem to have remained faces over time. It’s a mixture of as gas pipes, with third countries.
similar, even identical, for at least geopolitics, international (and Yet, progress has been far from
a decade. However, the world has internal) markets, but climate easy, and far from solving all
changed in many ways during change and environmental problems. The unrest in many
this time. Many of the challenges policies are also parts of the supplying third countries makes
remain, or have transformed over package. diversifying energy supplies a
time. At the same time, one could questionable solution.
get the impression that nothing Being such a broad and
or almost nothing has been crosscutting issue, energy Increased interconnectivity
achieved during the years. security will be challenging within EU could stabilize energy
to coordinate in a decision supply significantly, but require
The Achilles heel of European making structure as complex as enormous investments for the
energy policies is nothing new: that of the EU. It will demand infrastructure needed. The
Today, the EU still imports over streamlined and coherent work drafters of the Energy Union
half of the energy it consumes. in many sectors and by many proposal have had their eyes on
One third comes from one actors. These requirements will the European Fund for Strategic
external supplier – Russia. The be very challenging - to say the Investments – or the so-called
import cost amounts to more than least - for the Commission, for “Juncker Fund” – to help pour
1 billion euros, per day. the Member States, for External money into cross border cables
Action Service, and for the and pipelines, but the issue will
The crisis in Ukraine brought Parliament. Governance will be a hardly be solved on any short-
back energy security as one of key issue, but likely also heavily term basis. Interconnectivity is
the most urgent issues on EU’s debated. Although several also desirable in order to reduce
foreign policy agenda, and the energy policies have been drawn energy prices in Europe – which
concurring crises in the Middle up before, implementation has today are among the highest
East and Northern Africa add to always been an uphill struggle. in the world – which in turn
the challenge of secure energy This will be even more critical this could foster investments and
supplies. This all makes energy time, depending heavily on the competitiveness, and ease the
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
