Filenews 19 May 2022
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced yesterday a programme of actions for a gradual and future de-dependence on Russian energy products, proclaiming that for the major investments required in this direction, the Union will allocate €300 billion. However, as she has made clear, the €72 billion that has been set aside for this purpose is not enough and the €225 billion that has been earmarked for this purpose. (3/4) will be loans.
From what von der Leyen said, the Commission will promote through governments the following measures:
- A ban on the import of coal from Russia, a measure already agreed and announced.
- Reduction of the percentage of natural gas imported from Russia, in relation to the overall needs of the members. As she said, already from 40% which was the percentage of Russian gas in member states' supplies in April 2021, in April 2022 it decreased to 26%.
- Increase the target for improving energy efficiency for 2030 from 9% to 13%. - Increase the target for the use of renewable energy sources from 40% to 45% of consumption by 2030.
- Speeding up procedures for permitting renewable energy infrastructure and introducing an obligation to instal solar energy collectors in commercial and public buildings by 2025 and in new residential buildings by 2029, targets that Von der Leyen described as "ambitious but realistic".
- Establishment of a common gas supply mechanism and a common approach to countries selling energy and fuel to ensure energy imports, without competition between Member States and with price restraint.
- Filling the gaps in the interconnections for the supply of natural gas and liquefied natural gas "so that no Member State is left out".
- Promotion of energy saving policies, which for the President of the Commission is the fastest and cheapest way to deal with the current energy crisis.
As von der Leyen said, Russia's invasion of Ukraine brings "fundamental challenges" for the European Union, adding that "Putin's war has disrupted the global energy market" and has demonstrated the EU's dependence on Russia. "We have already started the path to transform the energy system to become climate neutral," the Commission president noted, referring to the European Green Deal, adding that the EU is currently upgrading its targets to ensure it gets rid of Russia's fossil fuels as soon as possible.
