Energy policy of the European Union
Russia, Canada, Australia, Niger and Kazakhstan were the five largest suppliers of nuclear materials to the EU, supplying more than 75% of the total needs in 2009.
[13][14] The history of energy markets in Europe started with the European Coal and Steel Community, which was created in 1951 to lessen hostilities between France and Germany by making them economically intertwined.
The 1957 Treaty of Rome established the free movement of goods, but three decades later, integration of energy markets had yet to take place.
[16] The history of energy markets in Europe started with the European Coal and Steel Community, which was created in 1951 in the aftermath of World War II to lessen hostilities between France and Germany by making them economically intertwined.
A year later, the Treaty of Rome established the free movement of goods, which was intended to create a single market also for energy.
This plan encountered opposition from the Council of Ministers, as the policy sought to liberalise what was regarded as a natural monopoly.
The directive for the electricity market contained the requirement that network operation and energy generation should not done by a single (monopolistic) company.
Additionally, greenhouse gas emissions needed to drop by 20% compared to 1990, and energy efficiency improved by 20%.
[23] Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, introduced the idea of an energy union when he was Prime Minister of Poland.
The European Council concluded on 19 March 2015 that the EU is committed to building an Energy Union with a forward-looking climate policy on the basis of the commission's framework strategy, with five priority dimensions: The strategy includes a minimum 10% electricity interconnection target for all member states by 2020, which the Commission hopes will put downward pressure onto energy prices, reduce the need to build new power plants, reduce the risk of black-outs or other forms of electrical grid instability, improve the reliability of renewable energy supply, and encourage market integration.
[26] EU Member States agreed 25 January 2018 on the commission's proposal to invest €873 million in clean energy infrastructure.
[30][31] The plan is to review each existing law on its climate merits, and also introduce new legislation on the circular economy, building renovation, farming and innovation.
[33] A year later, the European Climate Law was passed, which legislated that greenhouse gas emissions should be 55% lower in 2030 compared to 1990.
[6] After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU launched REPowerEU to quickly reduce import dependency on Russia for oil and gas.
While the policy proposal includes a substantial acceleration for renewable energy deployment, it also contains expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure from alternative suppliers.
[40] Due to only minor efforts in global Climate change mitigation it is highly likely that the world will not be able to reach this particular target.
In addition, it recommends setting a minimum emission performance standard for all new-build power installations.
These initiatives are currently assisting Europe in surviving the crisis brought on by the sudden interruption of Russian gas supply.
It also requires that all buildings should undergo 'energy certification' prior to sale, and that boilers and air conditioning equipment should be regularly inspected.
The fund was criticized for blanket ban on low-carbon nuclear power but also introduction of a loophole for fossil gas.
[73] Green hydrogen is a significant component of the European Union's strategy to transition to sustainable energy and reduce carbon emissions.
The European Commission has set a goal to produce 10 million tons of clean hydrogen annually within the EU by 2030.
Additionally, the EU plans to import another 10 million tons per year from countries with cost-effective renewable electricity.
Challenges to achieving higher production levels include high costs and limited subsidies.
A subsidy model similar to that of the United States, which offers $3 per kilogram, would require €3 billion annually to support the production of 1 million tons of green hydrogen.
[74] In 2013, a two-year investigation by the European Commission concluded that Chinese solar panel exporters were selling their products in the EU up to 88% below market prices, backed by state subsidies.
In response, the European Council imposed tariffs on solar imported from China at an average rate of 47.6% beginning 6 June that year.
In February 2017, the commission announced its intention to extend its anti-dumping measures for a reduced period of 18 months.
[82] The IEA raised its concern that demand-side technologies do not feature at all in the six priority areas of the SET Plan.
There was significant national variation with this, with 55% in favour of European level decision making in the Netherlands, but only 15% in Finland.
