The energy union strategy aims at building an energy union that gives EU consumers - households and businesses - secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy.&nbsp;The five pillars of the Energy Union are:&nbsp;accelerating decarbonisation with the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) and renewables at is core; scaling up energy efficiency; enhancing energy security and safety; strengthening the internal market; research, innovation and competitiveness.&nbsp; Since 2021, Europe has experienced a hike in energy prices that is part of a global surge. The&nbsp;Russian invasion of Ukraine&nbsp;in 2022 has further affected the energy markets, causing new increases of energy prices and concerns over the EU’s ability to secure its energy supply. &nbsp;

Energy union

A European Energy Union will ensure that Europe has secure, affordable and climate-friendly energy.

Wiser energy use while fighting climate change is both a spur for new jobs and growth and an investment in Europe's future.

The state of the Energy Union shows progress made since the Energy Union Framework Strategy was adopted to bring about the transition to a low-carbon, secure and competitive economy. 
The “Clean Energy for all Europeans” package consists of several legislative proposals and three communications on the energy market, energy efficiency, renewables, eco-design and governance of the Energy Union.

Energy union -  8th parliamentary term

Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the disruption of Russian gas supplies has led to skyrocketing electricity prices and market volatility, leading the Commission and member states to consider new policy options such as capping prices or decoupling of gas and electricity prices. In recent months, Parliament and Council have adopted an&nbsp;emergency plan for filling gas reserves.

The Commission has also launched the&nbsp;RepowerEU&nbsp;plan to reduce the&nbsp;dependency from Russia, diversify gas supplies, speed up the roll-out of renewable gases and replace gas in heating and power generation as well as&nbsp;EU-wide gas consumption reduction measures.

This can&nbsp;reduce EU demand for Russian gas by two thirds before the end of the year. The EC came with proposals how to deal with the problem during the SOTEU speech of Ursula von der Leyen.

European Union countries agreed on 30th September on series of meeasures, including energy levies on windfall profits of energy companies or binding targets to reduce electricity consumption.

Energy prices

By making energy more efficient, Europeans will see their energy bills reduced. In addition, Europe will diminish its reliance on external suppliers of oil and gas, improve local air quality and protect the climate.

By 2030, energy efficiency in the EU must have improved by 32.5%, whereas the share of energy from renewables should make up at least 32% of the EU’s gross final consumption. Both targets are to be reviewed by 2023. These targets can only be raised, not lowered. Lower energy bills and the right to become a renewable self-consumer will be the result.

#EUelections2019 - Clean energy and energy efficiency

MEPs debate and take a final vote on the reform of the EU electricity market to protect consumers from sudden price shocks and on new rules to facilitate the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, on the EU’s gas market.

Plenary debate - Reform of the energy and electricity markets

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - State of the Energy union

EP Plenary session - Withdrawal of the Union from the Energy Charter Treaty

EP Mini-Plenary Session - Joint debate - Reform of the energy and electricity markets

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - State of the EU solar industry in the light of unfair competition

EP Plenary session - Energy storage

EP Plenary session - REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans

ITRE ENVI joint committee - Exchange of views with Ms Kadri SIMSON, Commissioner for Energy, on the energy crisis

Press conference on REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans

EP Plenary session - Voting session

Press conference on proposals for an emergency intervention to address high energy prices

EP Plenary session - EU response to the increase in energy prices in Europe

EP Plenary session - Renewable Energy Directive

EP Plenary session  - Energy efficiency (recast)

EP Plenary session - Taxing windfall profits of energy companies

Press conference on taxonomy's delegated act on nuclear and gas

EP Plenary session - European solidarity and energy security in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and recent cuts in the gas supply to Poland and Bulgaria

EP Plenary session - Question Time to Commission on Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency

MEPs debate and take a final vote on the reform of the EU electricity market to protect consumers from sudden price shocks and on new rules to facilitate the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, on the EU’s gas market. Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Jerzy BUZEK (EPP, PL), Jens GEIER (S&D, DE), and Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ES), Rapporteurs.

Reform of the energy and electricity markets: Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Jerzy BUZEK (EPP, PL), Jens GEIER (S&D, DE), and Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ES), Rapporteurs

MEPs debate and take a final vote on the reform of the EU electricity market to protect consumers from sudden price shocks and on new rules to facilitate the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, on the EU’s gas market. Second part of MEPs debate.

Reform of the energy and electricity markets: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate and take a final vote on the reform of the EU electricity market to protect consumers from sudden price shocks and on new rules to facilitate the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, on the EU’s gas market. First part of MEPs debate.

Reform of the energy and electricity markets: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate and take a final vote on the reform of the EU electricity market to protect consumers from sudden price shocks and on new rules to facilitate the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, on the EU’s gas market. Opening statements by Jerzy BUZEK (EPP, PL), Jens GEIER (S&D, DE), Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ES), Rapporteurs, Maria GRAPINI (S&D, RO) on behalf of IMCO Committee, Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Reform of the energy and electricity markets: opening statements by Jerzy BUZEK (EPP, PL), Jens GEIER (S&D, DE), Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ES), Rapporteurs, Maria GRAPINI (S&D, RO) IMCO Committee and Didier REYNDERS, EU Commissioner for Justice

The "Energy Cells" is a project that consists of a system of four energy storage devices (batteries) with a total capacity of 200 megawatts (MW) and 200 megawatt-hours (MWh) into Lithuania’s energy system. Energy Cells has four 50 MW and 50 MWh energy storage facilities at transformer substations in Vilnius, Šiauliai, Alytus, and Utena. It is currently the largest project in the Baltics and one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Energy Cells received 87.6 million euros from the NextGenerationEU, the Recovery and Resilience Facility under the “New Generation Lithuania” plan for the installation of the energy storage system. The total value of the project, which will provide Lithuania with the instantaneous power reserve and the possibility to operate autonomously in isolated mode, is of 109 million euros.

Infoclip: Integrated system for batteries "Energy Cells" - Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) - Vilnius (Lithuania)

The Council and the Parliament reached a provisional agreement to reform the EU’s electricity market design (EMD). The reform aims to make electricity prices less dependent on volatile fossil fuel prices, shield consumers from price spikes, accelerate the deployment of renewable energies and improve consumer protection. Nicolás GONZALEZ CASARES (S&D, ES) holds a press conference following the deal on the reform of the EU electricity market. This transcription is a result of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Nicolás GONZALEZ CASARES (S&D, ES), Rapporteur on the reform of the EU electricity market

The proposed reform foresees revisions to several pieces of EU legislation – notably the Electricity Regulation, the Electricity Directive, and the REMIT Regulation. It introduces measures that incentivise longer term contracts with non-fossil power production and bring more clean flexible solutions into the system to compete with gas, such as demand response and storage. This will decrease the impact of fossil fuels on the consumer electricity bills, as well as ensure that the lower cost of renewables gets reflected in there. Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ES) holds a press conference on the reform of the electricity market design. The transcript is the result of an automated process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ES), rapporteur on the reform of the electricity market design

The ITRE Committee (EP Committee on Industry, Research and Energy) votes on a draft report to reform of the European electricity market, to make it more stable, affordable and sustainable. MEPs propose to further strengthen consumer protection against volatile prices. Consumers should have the right to fixed-price contracts, dynamic price contracts, as well as more key information on the options they sign up to, banning suppliers from being able to unilaterally change the terms of a contract. The aim is to ensure that all consumers and small businesses, would benefit from long-term, affordable and stable prices and to mitigate the impact of sudden price shocks. Extracts from the vote and statement by Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ES).

Reform of the electricity market design: extracts from the vote and statement by Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ES)

MEPs debate with the Commission the energy situation in the EU and preparations to refill gas reserves ahead of next winter. Closing statement by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy.

Energy storage: closing statement by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

MEPs debate with the Commission the energy situation in the EU and preparations to refill gas reserves ahead of next winter. First part of MEPs debate.

Energy storage: MEPs debate (part 2)

Energy storage: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate with the Commission the energy situation in the EU and preparations to refill gas reserves ahead of next winter. Opening statement by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Energy storage: opening statement by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

MEPs quiz Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson on the work to ensure EU energy security in 2023. Further measures are expected to be tabled or adopted in the coming weeks, such as a reform the European electricity market, as well as to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy. Questions & answers (part 3)

Question Time (Commission) - How to ensure energy security in the EU in 2023: questions & answers with Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy (part 3)

MEPs quiz Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson on the work to ensure EU energy security in 2023. Further measures are expected to be tabled or adopted in the coming weeks, such as a reform the European electricity market, as well as to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy. Questions & answers (part 2)

Question Time (Commission) - How to ensure energy security in the EU in 2023: questions & answers with Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy (part 2)

MEPs quiz Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson on the work to ensure EU energy security in 2023. Further measures are expected to be tabled or adopted in the coming weeks, such as a reform the European electricity market, as well as to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy. Questions & answers (part 1) with Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy.

Question Time (Commission) - How to ensure energy security in the EU in 2023: questions & answers with Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy (part 1)

This infoclip illustrates energy poverty with a gender perspective: explosion of energy poverty that is particularly affecting single mothers and single women. Illustrations with NGO with volunteers, preparing and distributing hot meals for people in need, at home woman saving money, reducing heat, fuel station filling car's tank.

Infoclip: Gender aspects of energy poverty

MEPs discuss on a deal reached with the Council in December 2022. Under the agreement, member states applying to receive additional funds through an amended recovery and resilience plan will be required to include measures to save energy, produce clean energy and diversify energy supplies, as foreseen in the EU’s REPowerEU plan. Closing statements by Eider GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL (S&D, ES) by Siegfried MUREŞAN (EPP, RO) and by Dragoş PÎSLARU (Renew, RO), co-Rapporteurs and by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management.

REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans: closing statements by Eider GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL (S&D, ES), Siegfried MUREŞAN (EPP, RO), Dragoş PÎSLARU (Renew, RO), co- Rapporteurs and by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management

MEPs discuss on a deal reached with the Council in December 2022. Under the agreement, member states applying to receive additional funds through an amended recovery and resilience plan will be required to include measures to save energy, produce clean energy and diversify energy supplies, as foreseen in the EU’s REPowerEU plan. Second part of the debate.

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