Europe’s energy system is in revolution. By replacing coal, oil and gas by
the efficient use of renewable energy, Europeans will improve their safety
vis à vis air pollution and climate change.

Two years ago, on February 25th 2015, the European Commission embraced the
comprehensive approach to the Energy Union. It has now delivered the concrete legislative proposals for an “Energy Union deal” that should deliver a robust regulatory framework able to deliver clean energy for all Europeans.

The European Union has energy rules set at the European level, but in practice it has 28 national regulatory frameworks. An integrated energy market is needed to create more competition, lead to greater market efficiency through better use of energy generation facilities across the EU and to produce affordable prices for consumers.

The retail market is not functioning properly. Many household consumers have too little choice of energy suppliers and too little control over their energy costs. An unacceptably high percentage of European households cannot afford to pay their energy bills.

Energy infrastructure is ageing and it does not fit to the increased production from renewables. There is a need to attract investments, but the current market design and national policies do not set the right incentives and provide insufficient predictability for potential investors.

Energy islands continue to exist, as many markets are not properly connected to their neighbors. This adds to the costs faced by consumers and creates vulnerability in terms of energy security.

We are still leaders in innovation and renewable energy, but other parts of the world are fast catching up and we have already lost ground when it comes to some clean, low carbon technologies.

Building up investment in high-tech, globally competing companies through stable policies will bring jobs and growth to Europe. New business sectors, new business models and new job profiles will emerge. Such transformational change profoundly affects the roles of all actors in the energy system, including the consumers.
However, reaching such deal and delivering the promise of the Energy Union, requires further efforts, in particular in building the mutual trust that founds solidarity. One way forward is for the European Commission to act as a facilitator between public and private players to promote concrete projects that benefit citizens.

A comprehensive approach to the energy transition also implies a challenging but promising external dimension. Europeans must aim at becoming the global providers of low-carbon solutions, creating jobs for Europeans while helping developing countries to leapfrog from energy scarcity to clean energy abundance.

Energy Union requires concrete projects and protection of European interests.
In this way, Europe can become the global provider of low-carbon solutions. The current low oil and gas prices, while they last, should be seized as an historic opportunity – when combined with the falling cost of cleaner forms of energy, a strong EU climate policy and the emergence of new technologies – to reset the EU’s energy policy in the right direction: that of an Energy Union.

The European Commission delivered the key proposals that will shape

Europe’s energy future. Negotiation starts and it is now up to each European Member State to contribute to the achievement of an ‘Energy Union Deal’ serving the interests of
all European citizens.