Presentation by Ms Kadri Simson of REPowerEU Communication
During today’s 15 March ITRE Committee Ms Kadri Simson, Commissioner for Energy, presented the REPowerEU Communication. The plan was presented by the European Commission one week ago, as an extraordinary measure to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, starting with gas, in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This plan includes a series of measures to respond to rising energy prices in Europe and to replenish gas stocks for next winter securing EU energy supply.
According to Ms. Simson, Europe’s response must be anchored in the Green Deal, and it will be important to increase the current level of import for alternative supplies. The measures can be summary as follow:
- Members States need to start the process to refill storage capacity under the Commission’s coordination. In parallel, the Commission is resetting the possible scenarios for gas flows to help European countries
- The Commission is working full speed to reduce the fossil gas
- The Commission is working to simplify and shorten permitting of authorization to promote corporate power agreements and recreate a solar power agreement for energy solar chain
- The Commission will publish this spring recommendation and fast permitting for renewable energy projects, and they will work to reduce obstacles. Member States can create go-to areas that are suitable for renewable projects
- The Commission is also planning to adopt the New Temporary Crisis Framework for State Aid, measure that will allow Member States to compensate businesses in relation to the energy costs. In order to fund it, the Commission is looking in all possible options, starting from revenues from January 2021 to February 2022. All options will be presented by President Von der Leyen by the end of March.
The meeting recording is available here.
The full text of the REPowerEU Communication can be downloaded here.
