- ENERGY KEY TOPICS
- Communication on Regional Cooperation Initiatives:
- The Communication will guide Member States, regulators and stakeholders on the Regional Cooperation Initiatives
- It will propose how to further achieve progress within the Regional Cooperation Initiatives, as a stepping stone towards the completion of the internal energy market
- The Communication will make proposals as to the best practices of the Regional Cooperation Initiatives
- The Commission believes that Belgium can serve as a good example since it has close cooperation with Germany and the Netherlands
Directive on the Transparency of Energy Markets:- The Belgian Presidency believes that rates for short-term contracts should be more expensive than those in long-term contracts
- The Presidency wants to consider this topic also with regard to the financial market
- Energy poverty:
- The current Belgian Energy Minister has been a strong advocate of reducing energy bills
- However, it is not yet sure whether this will still be a priority, as there is not a consensus between the different parties
- SET-Plan:
- The development of offshore networks (e.g. wind mills in the North Sea) will be treated as a priority
- CCS will also be part of the discussions
- Energy infrastructure package:
- The package will probably be published mid-November
- Energy dialogue with Russia and the US:
- The Belgian Presidency is planning to have a celebration for the 10th anniversary of the EU-Russia energy dialogue (end-November)
- Communication on roadmap for low carbon economy by 2050
- Preparation work for the publication at the beginning of 2011
- Action Plan: "An Energy Policy for Europe"
- Preparation work for the publication at the beginning of 2011
- Communication on a Roadmap Towards a 2050 Energy Policy
- Preparation work for the publication at the beginning of 2011
- European recovery plan
- The Presidency will have to finalise the discussions on what should be done with the remaining money available
- Subsidies for brown and stone coal
- The question of whether or not subsidies should be continued would be addressed soon, since the subsidies should be phased out by the end of the year
- Security of supply of radioisotopes
- This will be a major issue for the Belgian Presidency
- Atomic cooperation agreements
- The Belgian Presidency hopes to conclude an agreement with Australia and will also aim to achieve an agreement with South Africa, although this will probably be more difficult
- Nuclear waste
- In October 2010, the Commission will publish a proposal revising the nuclear waste directive
- The Presidency says that the current directive is too weak and that industry has also asked for a stable framework directive. Clarifying the situation of nuclear waste will help to improve the acceptance of nuclear energy
- Transport of radioactive material
- This may be part of a specific directive demanded by DG MOVE
- EVENTS
- 6–7 September: Informal Energy Council
- Mid-November: Conference on SET-Plan
- End-November: Celebration of 10th anniversary of the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue
- 2 December: Energy Council
