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Energy, Environment & Transport Pro Brief |
| Tue 29 October 2024 | View online
Estimated reading time: 4-5 minutes |
| | | From gas pipes to power lines: 16 countries meet in Budapest today |
| The ministerial meeting of the Central and South-Eastern European Energy Connectivity group (CESEC) in Budapest today will be another “exchange” in a region grappling with rapidly changing circumstances.
The CESEC group spans from Italy to Ukraine, and from Austria to Greece, and is closely linked with the snaking ‘Vertical Corridor’ gas pipeline.
This pipeline, under development, will connect Greece to Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova and Ukraine when complete.
Both CESEC and the pipeline project were jointly founded in 2014 – as a means to diversify supply and manage reliance upon Russia.
But while pipelines remain politically relevant in the 16 country, 170 million people group, electricity issues are becoming a more immediate concern.
After the summer price spikes – and a surprise regional power outage –Mechthild Wörsdörfer, deputy director-general in the Commission’s energy department will today stress at the meeting the need to integrate gas and power markets and “to foster cooperation on cross-border infrastructure projects as well as regional renewable projects.”
“Interconnection and cross-border flows between member states in the internal market are vital to moderate price spikes affecting specific regions,” a spokesperson told Euractiv.
The meeting will be focused on exchanging information, no new agreements are expected. [NK] |
| ACER ok’s two-way exemption for German-Czech gas connection |
| ACER, the European energy ‘regulator of regulators’, has found that a gas pipeline between Germany and the Czech Republic does not need to allow gas to flow both ways.
The decision though, dated 24 October, was announced yesterday.
EU rules push for gas to flows in both directions across border crossings, to strengthen Europe’s energy security of supply.
Exceptions, however, are possible, and the German Federal Network Agency BNetzA decided that it was not necessary for the German-Czech interconnection point “Deutschneudorf EUGAL’ to allow gas to flow from Czechia to Germany.
ACER largely agreed with BNetzA decision, noting that are no prospects for “a steady gas supply from the Czech Republic to Germany in the future.”
ACER also said that gas supply patterns “have shifted” since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and that the replacement of Nord Stream gas with LNG means that “the previous gas supply flows from the East have been replaced by additional LNG volumes from the North and West.”
Notwithstanding this view, ACER stays that two key elements must still be provided to comply with EU rules: a feasibility study and a cost-benefit analysis. [JS/DC] |
| | | Since the EU election in July, ‘technology neutrality’ has been one of Brussel’s favourite soundbites, second only to ‘competitiveness’.
For Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, it is clear – the green deal will continue, but with a ‘technologically neutral’ approach.
But what is clear in principle can often be fuzzy in practice.
Several sectors have expressed their support for the principle, despite receiving what is unquestionably technology-specific support.
Follow this link to share your own views, by close of business Wed 30 Oct. There is also a 1-minute confidential survey on the issue.
Euractiv will publish the best responses, in Friday’s Pro Brief. [DC] |
| | European business: go back to basics on energy transition |
| Europe Unlocked, an umbrella group representing 19 influential European business associations, yesterday added its voice to the Brussels debate on European competitiveness. Its ‘call to action’ urges Europe to continue with the energy transition, but pushes for a more rationalised and streamlined approach.
It cites possible incoherence in Green Deal laws – for example, pointing out that some new rules aim to streamline permitting for renewables and grid projects, while other laws maintain strict limitations on development.
The group’s membership includes pan-European associations such as the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), but is primarily composed of Nordic and Eastern national industry and employer associations.
The business groups want more action to ensure the security of Europe’s energy supply, with an emphasis on coordinated member state actions, before centralised EU initiatives.
Finally, the paper argues for a more market-driven approach towards the development and roll-out of green technologies, rather than “giving artificial advantages to specific technological solutions.”
Elsewhere, however, the paper calls for the Commission to develop “a clear pathway” which sets out the technology and regulatory options for decarbonisation post-2030, including discussions on “the use of ‘dis-patchable’ solutions in the energy mix.” [DC] |
| | NGOs launch new lawsuit against Spanish bottom trawling |
| NGOs Client Earth and Oceana are filing a new lawsuit against the Spanish Government, arguing that bottom trawling is happening in many of the country’s marine protected areas (MPAs).
Bottom trawling is a more indiscriminate fishing method which, according to the European Environment Agency, can severely disrupt marine ecosystems. NGOs argue that performing these activities in MPAs violates both EU and national conservation laws.
In 2023, the Commission proposed a ban on its EU Marine Action Plan, but for the NGOs, that is not enough. “The European Commission set the objective of banning bottom trawling in MPAs by 2030, but progress is too slow. We have no other choice but to use judicial powers to enforce EU law.” Michael Sealey, Senior policy advisor at Oceana in Europe, stated in a press release. [BM] |
| Nomadic beachcombers in decline – report |
| Migratory shoreline birds – those squat, pointy-beaked birds you see darting along the beach – are in trouble.
According to NGO BirdLife International, the latest edition of the IUCN Red List, an NGO-driven classification of endangered species, has raised its assessment of the extinction risk for 16 of these bird species.
Commenting on the development in a press release, NGO BirdLife International said that migratory birds rely on ‘flyways’ – specific routes with areas where they stop to rest and feed – which makes them particularly impacted by habitat destruction. [DC] |
| | VW labour chief warns on mass layoffs, three German plant closures |
| Volkswagen plans to shut at least three factories in Germany, lay off tens of thousands of staff and shrink its remaining plants in Europe's biggest economy as it plots a deeper-than-expected overhaul, the company's works council head said yesterday.
A confirmation of plant closures would mark the first time the car giant shuts down a factory on home soil - dealing a harsh blow to Germany's industrial prowess - and the first time since 1988 worldwide.
"Management is absolutely serious about all this. This is not sabre-rattling in the collective bargaining round," Daniela Cavallo, Volkswagen's works council head, told employees at the carmaker's biggest plant, in Wolfsburg, threatening to break off talks.
"This is the plan of Germany's largest industrial group to start the sell-off in its home country of Germany," Cavallo added, not specifying which plants would be affected or how many of Volkswagen Group's roughly 300,000 staff in Germany could be laid off.
Volkswagen also plans to cut salaries at the brand by at least 10% and freeze pay in both 2025 and 2026, she said.
Read the full article on Euractiv’s website. |
| | | | | | | Today’s brief was brought to you by Euractiv’s Energy, Environment & Transport team |
| | | | | Today’s briefing was prepared by the Energy, Environment and Transport team: Donagh Cagney, Paul Messad, Nikolaus J.Kurmayer and Bárbara Machado. Share your feedback or information with us at [email protected]. |
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