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EU energy ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss the TEN-E regulation, the hydrogen strategy and the renovation wave strategy.

TEN-E regulation

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Ministers agreed on a general approach on the proposed revision of the regulation on Trans-European Networks for energy (TEN-E). The general approach aims to modernise, decarbonise and interconnect the EU’s cross-border energy infrastructure to help the EU reach its 2050 climate-neutrality objective. At the same time, it aims to continue ensuring market integration, competitiveness and security of supply.

To become climate-neutral by 2050, we need modern, interconnected energy infrastructures that are fit for clean energy technologies. We need to see more smart grids and more renewables in our grids. The agreement reached today invests in a green and climate-neutral future that guarantees efficiency, competitiveness and security of supply, while leaving no one behind.

João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Portuguese Minister for the Environment and Climate Action

The general approach will serve as the basis for the Council’s position in the political trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament.


Renovation wave

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Ministers approved Council conclusions on a renovation wave that repairs the economy now, and creates green buildings for the future.

The buildings sector is one of the largest energy consumers in Europe and is responsible for more than one third of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. The renovation wave strategy aims to intensify renovation efforts throughout the EU, in order to make the necessary contribution by the building sector to the EU’s 2050 climate-neutrality goal and to deliver a fair and just green transition. The Council conclusions emphasise the aspects of social inclusion, economic recovery and green transition.

The strategy promotes renovations that reduce energy use, curb greenhouse gas emissions and increase cost savings.

The Council conclusions endorse the aim of the strategy to at least double energy-related renovation rates in the EU by 2030, while tackling energy poverty, creating new jobs and promoting the circular economy.

Hydrogen strategy

Ministers exchanged views on the evolution of the Hydrogen Strategy in Europe. The strategy aims to create an enabling environment to scale up hydrogen supply and demand as a key element in the clean energy transition.

Ministers discussed how member states can cooperate in order to create the right conditions to foster the hydrogen market and how to speed up regulation on end-use technologies to increase hydrogen uptake, in particular in the hard-to-decarbonise sectors. Ministers also discussed the funding priorities for hydrogen and how support for exports can be enhanced.

The Commission presented a ‘Hydrogen Strategy for a Climate-Neutral Europe” in July 2020. In December 2020, the Council approved conclusions recognising the important role that hydrogen, especially from renewable sources, plays in reaching the EU’s decarbonisation objectives, and calling the Commission to further elaborate and operationalise the strategy.

Other matters

The Commission informed ministers on recent developments in the field of external energy relations, including energy diplomacy, the IEA net zero initiative, IRENA, the Energy Charter Treaty and the next EU-US Energy Council.

The Lithuanian delegation drew the attention of ministers on urgent action concerning safety recommendations at the nuclear power plant Ostrovets in Belarus. The Czech delegation invited ministers to reflect on the EU taxonomy for sustainable economic activities and further possible steps in this regard.

Finally, the Slovenian delegation shared with the ministers the work programme for its upcoming presidency.

Meeting information

  • Meeting n°3801
  • Luxembourg
  • 11 June 2021

Preparatory documents

Outcome documents

Press releases

 

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