Brussels, 29 May 2024
Chair: Tinne Van der Straeten, Belgian Minister for Energy
European Commission representative: Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy
Starting time: 10:00
Ministers will be invited to approve conclusions on advancing sustainable electricity grids, one of the key priorities of the Belgian presidency in the energy sector. This set of conclusions follows up on the discussions of Energy ministers during the informal ministerial meeting on energy which took place in April 2024.
They also build on the Versailles Declaration of 10 and 11 March 2022 highlighting energy security and phasing out of the EU’s dependency on Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible, in particular by completing and improving the interconnection of European electricity networks and fully integrating power grids throughout the EU; as well as on the European Council conclusions of April 2024 underlining the importance of achieving a genuine Energy Union, which requires a substantial deployment of and investment in grids, storage and interconnections.
Ministers will discuss the future of REPowerEU, the EU’s plan to phase out dependency on Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible. Ministers will focus on obstacles encountered and on additional initiatives that should be launched to support the EU and its member states in their efforts to phase out the dependency.
The Belgian presidency has also prepared a debate on the state of play of the European Green Deal, reflecting on the way forward while supporting the EU’s global competitiveness and a just transition for all.
The Commission will stress the importance of the final national energy and climate actions plans to be submitted by member states in order to achieve the objectives set out in the European Green Deal.
Under non-discussion items, energy ministers are expected to formally adopt the so-called Belgian roadmap, based on a twofold compromise: decisions on the withdrawal of the EU and Euratom from the Energy Charter Treaty, together with the parallel decisions for the member states to approve or not to oppose the modernised Energy Charter Treaty at the upcoming Energy Charter Conference.
Over lunch, ministers will discuss the role of energy communities and citizens’ participation in the energy transition.
Sustainable electricity grids in the EU
In order for the EU to reach its emission reduction targets by 2030 and become climate neutral by 2050, it is of paramount importance to develop electric grids in an adequate manner. The ambitious energy goals set out in the ‘Fit for 55’ and REPowerEU packages make it necessary to efficiently adapt the existing electricity infrastructure, by increasing capacity, flexibility, resilience and the interconnectivity between member states.
In this context, energy ministers met in April at an informal meeting organised by the Belgian presidency, in order to further reflect on how to strengthen and develop the EU’s electricity grids. The conclusions on sustainable electricity grid infrastructure, to be approved during the Energy Council, follow up and build on these discussions.
An interconnected, integrated and synchronised European electricity network is crucial for ensuring energy security, the resilience of the electricity system, and for EU competitiveness and decarbonisation. The Council conclusions call on member states and the Commission to forge ahead with actions and measures to achieve this, such as speeding up the roll-out of grids (standardisation of components, different dimensions of permitting, nature inclusive design), swift implementation of the relevant parts of the Grid Action plan, strengthening the European and regional approaches to grid planning, financing and investing in onshore and offshore grid projects, and protecting electricity grids against cyber and hybrid threats.
Clean energy (background information)
An EU integrated network for energy transition in the EU (press release, Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union)
REPowerEU: quo vadis?
Following Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine, on 11 March 2022, EU leaders adopted the declaration of Versailles with the objective ‘to phase out the EU’s dependency on Russian gas, oil and coal imports as soon as possible’.
Following the Versailles declaration and as a response to the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Commission adopted the REPowerEU plan in May 2022, which aims to phase out Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible, save energy, diversify energy sources and accelerate the production of renewables.
Thanks to the relevant measures taken by the member states and the Commission, the EU has managed to save 125.2 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas, while securing sufficient gas reserves and reducing gas imports from 45% to 15% in only two years. Furthermore, installed wind and solar capacity increased by over a third between 2021 and 2023.
As the REPowerEU plan marks its two-year anniversary, energy ministers will take stock of achievements and challenges in its implementation, together with lessons learnt from the energy crisis. They will reflect on the way forward to strengthen energy security and price stability while phasing out the EU’s dependency on Russian fossil fuels.
The energy leap (feature story)
The REPowerEU plan explained (infographic) Versailles declaration
European Green Deal for a competitive EU
During the first five years of the European Green Deal, substantial progress has been made and a large number of energy-related legislative files have been adopted or have already entered into force. This regards notably the Fit for 55 legislative package, which aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
Now entering the implementation phase, the European Green Deal will need additional efforts to achieve its objectives, further strengthen its framework, and align it with the new European competitiveness deal.
Against this background, energy ministers will exchange views on how to remain on track for the EU’s 2030 energy efficiency and renewable energy targets, while boosting the Union’s competitiveness and the just transition towards decarbonisation.
Along with the conclusions on electricity grids, they will discuss additional steps towards a genuine Energy Union, as called for in the European Council conclusions of 17-18 April 2024, in order to pursue European energy sovereignty and climate neutrality.
European Green Deal (background information)
5 facts about the EU’s goal of climate neutrality (feature story) Special European Council, 17-18 April 2024 (main results)
Energy Charter Treaty
Under non-discussion items, energy ministers are expected to formally adopt a decision on the withdrawal of the EU and Euratom from the Energy Charter Treaty, together with the parallel decisions for the member states to approve or not to oppose the modernised Energy Charter Treaty at the upcoming Energy Charter Conference. The decisions are linked as they form the two pillars of the Belgian Presidency’s roadmap on the Energy Charter Treaty.
The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is a multilateral agreement that entered into force in 1998 and contains provisions on investment protection and trade in the energy sector.
Any other business
The Commission will present information on the final updated national energy and climate plans to be submitted by member states, in order to achieve the EU targets (in public session). Those targets include a reduction of energy consumption by at least 11.7%, ensuring at least 42.5% of energy comes from renewable sources; improved energy efficiency; and measures to reduce the EU’s dependence on energy imports.
National energy and climate plans (infographic – link was inactive)
Climate change: what the EU is doing (link was inactive)
The Commission will inform ministers about preparedness for winter 2024-2025. Ministers will also be briefed on the streamlining of the Commission’s procedures for the adoption of capacity mechanisms in the context of the electricity market design reform.
The Czech and Slovak delegations will inform ministers about the ‘Karlovy Vary Annual Policy Dialogue Statement’ and the need to strengthen just transition in regions affected by decarbonisation (in public session).
An information point on the impacts of the gas storage neutrality charge will be raised by the Austrian, Czech, Hungarian and Slovak delegations.
Delegations will hear from the Polish delegation on the terms and conditions of the 2024 Innovation Fund Action for RFNBO (renewable fuels of non-biological origin) hydrogen production.
The German, French and Dutch delegations will present information related to the prevention of biofuels fraud.
Finally, the Hungarian delegation with present its priorities as the upcoming Presidency of the Council.
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Source: This note has been drawn up under the responsibility of the Press Office