Communication: Clean energy for all Europeans

The Energy Union is one of the ten priorities of the Juncker Commission. With the aim to modernise the EU's economy, it works hand in hand with other flagship initiatives such as the Digital Single Market, the Capital Markets Union and the Investment Plan for Europe in order to deliver on jobs, growth and investments for Europe.

This package presents an opportunity to speed both the clean energy transition and growth and job creation. By mobilising up to an additional 177 billion euro of public and private investment per year from 2021, this package can generate up to 1% increase in GDP over the next decade and create 900,000 new jobs. It will also mean that on the average the carbon intensity of the EU's economy will be 43% lower in 2030 than now, with renewable electricity representing about half of the EU's electricity generation mix.

The Energy Union is the EU's major vector for and contribution to a global and comprehensive transition towards a low carbon economy. The EU brokered the Paris Agreement in December 2015 and thanks to the EU's swift ratification, this first global agreement on climate change mitigation entered into force not even a year later on 4 November 2016. The Paris Agreement gives a clear and ambitious direction of travel for investment into low carbon innovation. The implementation of the EU's ambitious Paris climate change commitments is now the priority and depends to a large extent on the successful transition to a clean energy system as two thirds of greenhouse gas emissions result from energy production and use.

As announced in the Commission's Work Programme for 2017, the Commission hereby presents regulatory proposals and facilitating measures that aim to modernise the economy and boost investments in clean energy related sectors. The regulatory proposals and facilitating measures presented in the package aim at accelerating, transforming and consolidating the EU economy's clean energy transition thereby creating jobs and growth in new economic sectors and business models. The legislative proposals cover energy efficiency, renewable energy, the design of the electricity market, security of supply and governance rules for the Energy Union.

The tabled package pursues three main goals:
- Putting energy efficiency first.
- Achieving global leadership in renewable energies.
- Providing a fair deal for consumers.

The facilitating actions include initiatives to accelerate clean energy innovation and to renovate Europe's buildings as well as measures to: encourage public and private investment and make the most of the available EU budget; promote industry-led initiatives to foster competitiveness; mitigate the societal impact of the clean energy transition; involve multiple players including on the one hand Member States authorities, local and city authorities and on the other hand businesses, social partners and investors, and maximise Europe's leadership in clean energy technology and services to help third countries achieve their policy goals.

This package should be seen in the context of the EU leading the way towards a smarter and cleaner energy for all, to implement the Paris agreement, fuel economic growth, spur investment and technological leadership, create new employment opportunities and enhance citizen's welfare.

European Commission: Press Release, IP/16/4009 (30.11.16): Adoption of the 'Clean Energy for All Europeans' package http://www.europeansources.info/record/adoption-of-the-clean-energy-for-all-europeans-package/

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