The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Charles Hendry)
I represented the United Kingdom at the EU Informal Energy Council in Hungary on 2-3 May 2011.
Discussions at the Council focused on the 2050 Energy Roadmap. Commissioner Oettinger emphasised the importance of a road map as providing a framework for the EU’s transition to a low-carbon economy with virtually decarbonised electricity generation and noted the importance of considering intermediate milestones, for example for 2030. Discussion by Ministers of priorities for the road map touched on renewables deployment, infrastructure, low-carbon development, the importance of giving the right investment signals and the need for scenarios to be underpinned with robust analysis, including of costs. I noted that a focus on both low-carbon development and energy security was essential as was consideration of the full range of fuel mixes. The discussion at the Council will feed into the communication that the Commission is preparing and planning to issue in the autumn.
Over lunch, there was a discussion of external European energy relations, which will feed into a communication that the Commission plans to publish after the summer on energy security and international co-operation. This will be one of the priorities for the Polish presidency.