The European Parliament adopted by 475 votes to 100, with 33 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Governance of the Energy Union, amending Directive 94/22/EC, Directive 98/70/EC, Directive 2009/31/EC, Regulation (EC) No 663/2009, Regulation (EC) No 715/2009, Directive 2009/73/EC, Council Directive 2009/119/EC, Directive 2010/31/EU, Directive 2012/27/EU, Directive 2013/30/EU and Council Directive (EU) 2015/652 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 525/2013.
The European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows:
Purpose and scope: Parliament clarified that the new governance mechanism to achieve the Energy Union shall also aim to:
- implement strategies and measures to meet the Union's long-term commitments on greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement;
- stimulate cooperation between Member States, including at regional level, in order to achieve the objectives and targets of the Energy Union;
- contribute to greater regulatory certainty as well as contribute to greater investor certainty and help take full advantage of opportunities for economic development, investment stimulation, job creation and social cohesion.
The governance mechanism shall be based on long-term strategies, ensure that the public has the opportunity to participate in the preparation of national plans and long-term strategies and include a structured and transparent process between the Commission and Member States for the finalisation and subsequent implementation of integrated national energy and climate plans.
National plans: each Member State shall submit to the Commission by 31 December 2019 an integrated 10-year national energy and climate plan (and every 10 years thereafter), with national targets, contributions, policies and measures. The first plan would cover the period from 2021 to 2030, taking into account a longer-term perspective. The plans would be made available to the public.
Each plan shall include, inter alia:
- a description of the policies and measures planned with regard to the general objectives, specific targets and corresponding contributions relating to renewable energy and energy efficiency;
- a general assessment of the impact of planned policies and measures on competitiveness related to the five dimensions of the energy union, namely: (i) energy security; (ii) the internal energy market; (iii) energy efficiency; (iv) decarbonisation; and (v) research, innovation and competitiveness;
- an assessment of the number of households in energy poor poverty, taking into account the domestic energy services necessary to guarantee a basic standard of living in the national context in question, existing social policy and other relevant policies.
In the event of insufficient ambition in the integrated national energy and climate plans, the Commission shall (with regard to the Union's specific renewable energy target) and could (with regard to the Union's other targets) issue recommendations asking Member States whose contributions are insufficient to increase their level of ambition in order to ensure a sufficient level of collective ambition.
Multi-level dialogue: each Member State shall establish a permanent and multi-level energy dialogue bringing together local authorities, civil society organisations, businesses, investors and any other relevant stakeholders to discuss the different options envisaged for energy and climate policies. The dialogue may take place through any national structure, such as a website, a public consultation platform or another interactive communication tool.
The Commission shall set up an online platform to facilitate communication between the Commission and the Member States, promote cooperation between Member States and facilitate public access to information. This platform should be operational by 1 January 2020 at the latest.
Long-term strategies: no later than 1 January 2020, and thereafter no later than 1 January 2029, and every 10 years thereafter, each Member State shall draw up and communicate to the Commission its long-term strategy, covering at least 30 years. Member States shall, if necessary, update these strategies every 5 years. The Commission shall adopt, by 1 April 2019 at the latest, a proposal for a long-term EU strategy for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement, taking into account the Member States' draft integrated national energy and climate plans.
Principle of the primacy of energy efficiency: before taking energy planning, policy and investment decisions, whether cost-efficient, technically, economically and environmentally sound alternative energy efficiency measures could replace in whole or in part the envisaged planning, policy and investment measures, whilst still achieving the objectives of the respective decisions. This includes, in particular, the treatment of energy efficiency as a crucial element and a key consideration in future investment decisions on energy infrastructure in the Union.
Strategic plan for methane: given the high global warming potential and relatively short atmospheric lifetime of methane, the Commission shall analyse the implications for implementing policies and measures for the purpose of reducing the short- and middle-term impact of methane emissions on Union greenhouse gas emissions.
Lastly, the Commission shall present, by 1 January 2020 at the latest, an updated analysis of the non-CO2 effects of aviation, accompanied, if appropriate, by a proposal on how best to address them.