At the meeting, EU Heads of State and Government agreed to back four main commitments: to complete the common internal energy market by 2014; to eliminate ‘energy islands’ by 2014 – where some Member States are presently disconnected from the rest of the EU in terms of energy; to boost energy efficiency and to improve coordination and cooperation on energy with non-EU neighbours, particularly those to the east and the south.
While the Summit focused mainly on the single energy market, boosting energy efficiency and external relations, it also tackled low-carbon energy, emphasising, in its conclusions, the need to “promote investment in renewables and safe and sustainable low-carbon technologies established in the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan [SET-Plan].” The Council invited the Commission to “table new initiatives on smart grids, including those linked to the development of clean vehicles, energy storage, sustainable bio fuels and energy saving solutions for cities.” Read More
