Energy Union

Europe's energy system is facing an increasing need to ensure secure, sustainable, affordable and competitive energy for all citizens. Excessive dependence on a limited number of supply sources, especially for natural gas, leaves countries vulnerable to supply disruptions. We must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; affordability and competitiveness of energy prices are a growing concern for households and businesses.

Persistent obstacles to a real market integration, the lack of coordination of national policies and the absence of a common position vis-à-vis third countries undermine progress in this area. The effective response to these challenges is a more coherent set of measures across policy areas and at national and EU levels. The agreement on the 2030 Framework for Climate and Energy and the 2014 European Energy Security Strategy were important steps forward that the Energy Union builds on, but new and strengthened measures are needed to effectively meet the challenges ahead.

The Framework Strategy for the Energy Union sets the vision for the future and integrates several policy areas into a coherent strategy. It incorporates mutually reinforcing initiatives - if fully implemented - and ensures that the EU will be able to meet its challenges based on solidarity and trust between Member States.

The Energy Union builds on the three long-established objectives of EU energy policy: security of supply, sustainability and competitiveness. To achieve these objectives, the Energy Union focuses on five mutually supportive dimensions: energy security; solidarity and trust; the internal energy market; energy efficiency as a contribution to the moderation of energy demand; decarbonisation of the economy; and research, innovation and competitiveness.

All these dimensions are areas that require further integration and coordination. Within these dimensions, the action plan annexed to the framework strategy presents specific measures that will be prepared and implemented in the coming years. The action plan will be monitored and reviewed over time to ensure the response to evolving challenges and new circumstances.

Source: European Commission

Clean Energy Package

The Clean Energy Package, released by the European Commission in November 2016, aimed to establish a legislative framework for the clean energy transition and create the Energy Union in the EU.

This Legislative Package consisted of eight legislative proposals, of which four legislative proposals about renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy performance in buildings and Energy Union Governance Regulation; the remaining proposals were related to the new electricity market design.

In July 2018, the European Parliament adopted the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the European Parliament approved in November 2018, the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), which set a target of 32% of energy from renewable sources in the European Union by 2030.

Proposals concerning the Energy Efficiency Regulation, with the energy efficiency target of 32.5% by 2030, the Energy Union Governance System Regulation, regarding the electricity interconnection targets from 10% in 2020 to 15% in 2030, were also approved, and Member States  established  National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan for (2021-2030).