The ministers of energy and the ministers of transport of the EU Member States took part in a joint session focussing on the compatibility of energy and transport policies in terms of accelerating the green change in the transport sector after 2023.
‘Transformation of the energy sector will lead to changes in other sectors as well. We must be prepared for the challenges. The green transformation will require huge amounts of energy. In order to achieve complete energy independence, we must be able to produce all the amount needed ourselves. We must enable a rapid development of energy from renewable sources. At the same time, other sources of generating clean electricity have to be planned in advance, to ensure uninterrupted and reliable supply of energy at an affordable price’, said Minister Dainius Kreivys.
A number of factors has driven the need to reform the electricity market. The most important among them are the aim of the European energy independence and the vision for a climate-neutral EU by 2050, ensuring a balanced energy supply and affordable energy prices at the same time. Participants in the discussions noted that, while increasing the energy market‘s resistance to crises – such as the ones encountered last year – it is important to protect consumers from significant price volatility and to ensure a competitive economy and growth.
The energy ministers exchanged information on the situation in terms of measures taken to prepare for the next heating season so that uninterrupted supply of natural gas to households and industries is ensured next winter.
Minister Dainius Kreivys stated that Lithuania’s position is secure. The liquefied natural gas terminal in Klaipėda is operating at full capacity and supplying gas to consumers in both Lithuania and other countries in the region. Together with other energy infrastructure in the region, this enables a maximum reduction of the risk of energy supply disruptions next winter.
In the area of energy and transport policies, attention was focussed on speeding up the green change in the transport sector after 2030. Sufficient investments in the generation and infrastructure of electricity without the use of fossil fuels must be ensured; broader electrification of the transport sector is needed. In addition, the importance of reinforcing electricity grids and developing vehicle charging stations was emphasised, and proposals for creating more favourable competition conditions for electrification and for the transition to alternative clean fuels were approved.
During the second day of the informal ministerial meeting, the ministers discussed future energy policy for industrial competitiveness in all the EU Member States.
The discussions covered long-term measures of the EU energy policy and investments that would help reduce carbon dioxide emissions through electrification of industry and speeding up the implementation of cost effective alternatives to fossil fuels. The EU aims to be climate-neutral by 2050 – an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, with the industrial competitiveness and efficiency supported in all the Member States.
Next formal meeting of the EU Council of Energy Ministers is scheduled for 28 March in Brussels. Until then, the European Commission plans to present a draft EU legal act on an electricity market review.
