Nord Stream 2 –Energy Union at the crossroads

Nord Stream 2 –Energy Union at the crossroads

Apr 19, 2016

The European Commission has taken note of the plans of gas undertakings to build Nord Stream 2. If built, Nord Stream 2 would have to fully comply, as any other infrastructure project, with applicable EU law, including on energy and environment. In May 2014, the European Commission set out in its Energy Security Strategy how the EU remains vulnerable to external energy shocks. It called on policy makers at national and EU level to diversify and reduce our dependency on particular fuels, energy suppliers and routes. The Energy Union builds on this strategy. Energy security, solidarity and trust constitute a key dimension of our framework strategy of 25 February 2015. The key drivers of energy security remain the completion of the internal energy market and more efficient energy consumption. But events over the past years have also shown that diversification of energy sources, suppliers and routes are crucial for ensuring secure and resilient energy supplies to European citizens and companies. More transparency and solidarity between the Member States are equally important. At the same time, the EU's energy security is closely linked with its neighbours. It is in this spirit, that on 16 February of this year, the European Commission presented its Security of Supply Package, which responded to many calls of this house. I believe that this package sends a strong signal that we are building a secure and resilient Energy Union, based on competition and cooperation for the benefit of EU citizens and companies. Let me just recall that the package proposes a revised Security of Gas Supply Regulation, an LNG and storage strategy, changes to the [...]
The 4th Annual CEEP Energy Summit: “29+1”

The 4th Annual CEEP Energy Summit: “29+1”

Jun 1, 2015

With the topic “Energy Meets Digital. Digital Economy: A Technology Driver for an Energy Union”, this year’s 29+1 edition focuses on the game-changing interaction between the energy and digital realms. ‘29+1’ Annual Energy Summit takes place on June 15 and 16, in Warsaw. The ‘29+1’ Summit brings together a distinguished and knowledgeable group of decision-makers to allow them to discuss the major challenges and opportunities in the field of energy. As in the past three years, the summit will once again provide the opportunity for representatives of Central European energy and energy-intensive companies to come together and voice their interests. On June 16, the roundtable meeting, with the participation of Mr. Günther Oettinger, the European Commissioner for Digital Economy & Society, and the European Commissioner for Energy in the years 2010-2014, will be held. Issues related to the energy sector and digital economy at local and regional level are expected to feature strongly. The summit will also allow us to present, for the first time, a report drafted by CEEP and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, which indicates the way forward in proceeding with the key infrastructural projects for the full integration of the EU, complementing the existing and planned infrastructural networks. This event is one of our flagship projects, where ‘29’ stands for 29 CEOs or Board members of the biggest Energy Sector companies from Central Europe and the ‘1’ stands for the EU’s Commissioner. The first such Energy Summit was held in Budapest under the Patronage of the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, the Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Waldemar Pawlak, and the Cypriot Presidency to the [...]
Rafał Trzaskowski: “We have changed the way of thinking about energy in the EU”

Rafał Trzaskowski: “We have changed the way of thinking about energy in the EU”

May 24, 2015

For Poland, is the Energy Union Package a success? It is a success, no doubt about that! We have managed to change the way of thinking about energy security in the European Union. I believe there is no way back to the situation where energy was being treated purely from the perspective of national interests, away from climate and economic challenges. We did succeed in placing energy on the right track , where the EU’s common, strategic, geopolitical goals matter more than regional aspirations and where external energy suppliers cannot play us against each other, in line with a ‘divide and rule’ strategy. . This long-term change in the EU’s philosophy is as important as practical legislative proposals. Almost all the solutions from the original proposal by Donald Tusk, the then Prime Minister of Poland, are now in the Energy Union Package. All agreements, commercial ones too, will have to be transparent, which means: fully compliant with EU law and EU energy security provisions, without prejudice to the confidentiality of commercially sensitive information. That is a Copernican shift to what we have at the moment. The Commission will be finally able to verify whether EU laws and energy policies are being obeyed. It is very important that it also concerns the EU’s policies, as some contracts do not explicitly break the EU laws, but go against the philosophy of the single market. Also, collective purchasing will be possible, in line with EU competition law and WTO rules, although it will not be compulsory. Is Poland planning to build an inter-governmental platform for such collective purchasing of gas? [Tweet "So [...]
Jan Woźniak: an Energy Union could strengthen our bargaining power

Jan Woźniak: an Energy Union could strengthen our bargaining power

May 23, 2015

“Imposing further restrictions on industry, without parallel moves in other parts of the world, will lead to the ultimate slow death of the EU’s industry.” Jarosław Adamowski (JA): Impexmetal is active in the non-iron metals industry, with more than 30 subsidiaries in Poland and abroad. What has been the impact of the EU regulations on the emissions of CO2, on the sector in which Impexmetal operates? Jan Woźniak (JW): The EU regulations related to the emissions of CO2 have a major importance for all industrial sectors, not just Impexmetal. On the one hand, given the high dependency of Poland’s energy sector (and energy is one of the key costs incurred by the metals industry) on coal, these regulations are a major handicap to our competitiveness, and yet, on the other one, they foster innovativeness. So, in this sense, they are both a barrier and an incentive for development. In the long-term, the regulations which limit CO2 emissions will positively impact on economic development, but they are currently limiting the possibilities of competing against companies from outside of the EU, which are not bound by such restrictive regulations. JA: The ongoing negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) by Brussels and Washington could have a significant impact on the competitiveness of the EU’s industry. Is Impexmetal hoping that this will lead to a facilitation of Europe’s access to the US market? Would such a development be beneficial to the non-iron metals sector? JW: Impexmetal has been present on the US market for many years. With regards to our volume of sales there, it is not an important market [...]