Press Release: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, Brussels, 4 March 2014

Main results of the Council:

The Council held a public policy debate on the Commission communication on energy prices and costs in Europe. Ministers again recalled in particular the importance of completing the internal energy market by 2014 and the need to further develop new energy infrastructure to secure the uninterrupted supply of energy throughout the EU at affordable prices. Ministers also highlighted the continued need for households and industry to reduce their energy consumption by improving energy efficiency and energy savings. Furthermore, ministers stressed the importance of creating a level playing field on the world energy market to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry and to mitigate the increasing price differential with third-country competitors.

The Council also held a public policy debate on a Commission communication for a 2030 framework for climate and energy policy from the energy policy perspective so as to ensure complementarity with the policy debate in the Environment Council the previous day. Ministers stressed in particular that future climate and energy policies should aim at balancing different objectives: sustainability and credible pathways towards a low-carbon economy, with affordable energy prices, safe and secure energy systems and European competitiveness. They also expressed support for the Commission's aim to attain future climate and energy objectives in the most cost-efficient way.

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/147: Preparation of the Energy Council, 4 March 2014 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-147_en.pdf

ESO: Background information: 2030 climate and energy goals for a competitive, secure and low-carbon EU economy http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-2030-climate-and-energy-goals-for-a-competitive-secure-and-low-carbon-eu-economy/

ESO: Background information: Communication From The Commission To The European Parliament, The Council, The European Economic And Social Committee And The Committee Of The Regions Energy prices and costs in Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/communication-from-the-commission-to-the-european-parliament-the-council-the-european-economic-and-social-committee-and-the-committee-of-the-regions-energy-prices-and-costs-in-europe/

ESO: Background information: Industrial Renaissance (Special reports) http://www.europeansources.info/record/industrial-renaissance-special-reports/

ESO: Background information: Communication From The Commission To The European Parliament, The Council, The European Economic And Social Committee And The Committee Of The Regions A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030 http://www.europeansources.info/record/communication-from-the-commission-to-the-european-parliament-the-council-the-european-economic-and-social-committee-and-the-committee-of-the-regions-a-policy-framework-for-climate-and-energy-in-the/

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