Germany Tables Energy Discussions in Brussels, and G7

While G7 leaders were discussing climate policies, committing to renewed efforts in preparation for the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in December, European officials signed on Monday a flurry of deals to advance the integration of European energy markets.

‘The European Commission and the Baltic Sea Region countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding modernising and strengthening the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan’ reads a note released by the European Commission on Monday. 

Meanwhile, 12 European countries signed a declaration for regional cooperation on security of electricity supply within the European internal market. This was followed by the signature of a political declaration of the Pentalateral Energy Forum. 

“These agreements are a first milestone. They give the political backing to a stronger energy co-operation in Europe. The signatory countries are determined to enhance security of supply through further market integration. This is one of the main building blocks of the Energy Union which is one of the key priorities of the Juncker Commission” Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete commented. 

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden as well as the neighbouring countries Switzerland and Norway signed the political declaration for regional cooperation security of electricity. 

‘[The declaration] sets political commitments to better coordinate national energy policies, including on security of supply; a more efficient use of existing electricity networks and increasing the integration of renewable energies to the national markets.’

Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands also signed a political declaration of the Pentalateral Energy Forum. 

‘It aims to foster open and transparent regional dialogue in order to increase security of supply, further market integration and pursue greater market flexibility.’ 

Finally, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and Norway signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the reinforced Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP). 

‘Seeking to end the energy isolation of the Baltic Sea Region and to integrate it fully into the EU energy markets the countries extend the scope of the BEMIP initiative by adding to the already existing areas of cooperation – internal energy market, interconnections and power generation – new areas, such as energy efficiency, renewables and security of supply.’

Meanwhile, the heads of state and government from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Council President and European Commission President discussed climate, energy and development. 

‘For Chancellor Angela Merkel it is important that the G7 participants affirm their commitment to the ‘two-degree target’, i.e. to keep global warming down to a rise of no more than 2°C as compared to the pre-industrial era’ reads a separate press release.