- “I think you also asked about Mr. Gerbrandy here. I think, yes, I see my microphone clicking. So maybe the time is running out, but, um, Commissioner Jorgensen has, uh, you know, I think it was last week, uh, outlined a roadmap to really, um, step up on energy efficiency actions. Uh, it is about simplifying and supporting the implementation of existing directives to also embed much more energy efficiency into all EU energy policies. To enhance sector specific standards for buildings, products and systems, but then also to zoom in more on mobilising investments, the necessary financing, cross-sector collaboration and and maybe also to look into more of market based mechanisms such as tradeable energy savings. So of course, that should go hand in hand with looking more at skills, um, innovation, international cooperation, etc. but really we I think the Commissioner will agree with you that, you know, we we need to step up action when it comes to energy efficiency. First, um, I think, Mr. Chairman, that pretty much covers it. I already mentioned because Mrs. Martin spoke a lot about the impacts of climate change, but indeed, I mentioned that next year the Commission will be coming forward with the European Climate Adaptation Plan. There will be proper stakeholder consultation, impact assessment, etc.. Also, legislative action has been requested from the commission. So that is definitely on our list for for next year. And we look forward to working with you on that. Thank you very much.”
Climate efforts · Energy efficiency
- “We have the targets for 2030 that have been set in the 5455 package agreed around two years ago in this house, and that one sets intermediate milestones in the transition to this competitive, resilient and decarbonized economy and has been designed to do that in a cost efficient way. As such, the update of these national energy and climate plans is much more than just a bureaucratic exercise or just a legal requirement. It is really about taking stock of progress against this joint ambition, and notably taking into account the new political geopolitical challenges, to also identify strategic priorities and translate the agreed targets into concrete measures. And that in close cooperation with all with all involved stakeholders. Because if you think about practical implementation, it's about infrastructure, it's about priorities, it's about different sectors. And it's of course very, very important to do that together with the interested parties. Now, by providing clarity and predictability on the policy framework at national level, NPS do provide the much needed visibility to investors and therefore help attract investments where they are needed the most. And that is why it is also critical that we, uh, get and receive the missing final updated plans. And this is from Belgium and Poland, uh, and that this should happen as soon as possible. Now we have summarised on the slide that you see on the screen the main results from the assessment. Um, and we're happy to inform that the updated NPS show a clear and continued commitment by Member States to the full implementation of the 2030 goals.”
Climate efforts · Energy efficiency
- “It is the result of an iterative and very cooperative and constructive process between the Commission and the Member States. And we're very happy that the updated plans include considerable improvements in almost all elements compared to the, um, the draft plans that we've received before now. Um, the commission's assessment shows that the EU would reduce emissions by around 54% by 2030. All of that always compared to the 1990 levels. If member states fully implement the measures set out in the plan, that is of course still to be done. Um, but also implement the EU policies that have been designed for that purpose. Now, to go more, uh, in in a disaggregated manner, to talk to you a little bit about the effort sharing sectors, and that is domestic transport, buildings, agriculture, small industry and waste. Here the emissions are expected to decrease by around 38% in 2030. Here the base year is 2005, which means that we are still two percentage points short of the -40% target for 2030. Um, this is thanks to the increased ambition of policies to decarbonise transport and buildings. 12 member states expect to reach their 2030 effort sharing targets, and this is up from eight in the draft plans. We have six more member states to expect to reach their targets when using the flexibilities that are foreseen in the legislation. We do also have, out of those 23 member states that we have assessed, we have five member states that do expect to have a gap to their 2030 targets.”
Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme · Climate efforts
- “Now we are currently, as I mentioned, uh, looking forward to receiving the social climate plans where the member states need to outline in detail how they want to use the revenues from ETS two to support vulnerable groups, both in cities but also in rural areas, also SMEs. So that is exactly, exactly there for that purpose. And we will be working, as I said closely with member states, to to really design those plans in the proper way and to to use the money where it needs to go. Um, we have been doing that already. So the deadline is not yet now, But we have been, of course, already preparing that. And the discussions with the member States are very good. We are trying to, you know, share the best practices in those areas and to really show Member States what can be done. Um, in response to Mrs. Andre, I wanted to say that, um, the the experience, uh, from climate policy action is uh, is not about, um, unemployment. It is correct that there are impacts from the transition. Uh, clearly. And that is why we always design our policies to support those, uh, those sectors, but also those regions that will, um, experience those impacts from the transition and to support them. But I wanted to just highlight that we have been able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37% by now compared to 1990, and that, uh, GDP has gone up by 68%.”
Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme · Cohesion and rural funding
- “Now, the only two plans that have not been submitted yet is Belgium and Poland, as I said. So Estonia has also submitted in the meantime, as somebody else asked about, um, and in fact, it's very interesting because, uh, the Polish headline figures are very ambitious. And from experience on the ground. We see that they are doing very, very well in clean technologies. So that is a very encouraging situation. Now, um, you asked about agriculture. Um, it is uh, the legal situation is that there are no separate targets for agriculture today. This is part of the effort sharing, uh, targets that member states have. Uh, of course, we have zoomed in on, you know, what do what do member states, uh, represent in terms of progress in those sectors? But, um, there is no very, very detailed assessment when it comes to agriculture. And that is really more, uh, under the Common Agricultural Strategic Plans. But in the future, uh, of course, we will try to bring this more together, um, and to really ensure, uh, coherence. Um, and that brings me also to another question, um, where you said how to avoid that. You know, we're not really monitoring what's really happening in the member states. And I would like to, uh, point to the fact that it's from the side of the commission. We try to look at all these different, uh, work streams if you want, in a coherent manner.”
Direct payments to farmers (pillar 1)
- “So we have the NPS, but we have, as I mentioned, the territorial just transition plans. We have the recovery and resilience plans. We have the semester. So of course, if you look through all of those, the commission is very much insisting that all the measures and actions and investments that the member States outlined in these different instruments are aligned and do support the the transition and decarbonization in all these sectors. So it is not only, you know, the governance regulation that does this. Of course, it's a very important tool not to to diminish that, but it is it is also really coming through in all the different commission work streams. Um, we do follow what is happening on the ground in member states. And notably, we very much discuss with them the challenges they experience and and how to overcome those. We we visit member States regularly. We have workshops with either, you know, a subset of member states or all member states. So this is very much on our mind. And of course, we also will do yearly, uh, the progress, uh, the progress report in the state of the Energy Union report, but also in the Climate Action Progress report. Um, and there we will also be looking at and that is in response to Mr. Bloss, whether or not, uh, corrective action plan would be required, as is foreseen in the legislation. Um, then the, um, the energy efficiency, um, gap.”
Energy efficiency
- “Of course, also those that would not be getting direct support. So not being vulnerable groups or small SMEs, um, they we also need to engage with these groups if it is about jobs, if it is about reskilling, if it is about, you know, new, uh, business models. Yes. We need to enter into a discussion with, with people there and to talk through, you know, what is what is the perspective. And that is what we do try to do very much. I think Commissioner Hoekstra is visiting member states very, very regularly. So do the Commission services. We we have been visiting every member state. And of course, we are in constant dialogue trying to also really understand the challenges, to then take that into account when we do come out with the member state, uh, specific guidance, and you will find in the in the staff working document that I refer to, really zooming in per individual member states, what we think are promising actions that the member states can still take. I do agree that we could be more, uh, forthcoming and showing success stories. It is what we do. Discuss what I call best practices between the member states, but also towards, uh, you know, citizens. We should be able to. Yeah, to show more that it is in everybody's interest to to stay this course.”
Energy transition (state support)
- “We engage with stakeholders with different sectors. I was myself in Austria. I think it was the end of of last year. And in fact it is always very, very interesting to to have that discussion to also visit. Um, I forget the name now of the, uh, the very, very, um, impressive heat pump, big, uh, power plant installation that I visited there. And it is absolutely an ongoing dialogue. It is not that we have now done this assessment and we are there. No, it will continue to be an ongoing dialogue also because of course, circumstances keep, keep changing. Um, so, yes, um, member states will need to continue. Uh, on this track, we we have, as I mentioned before, this ongoing dialogue, we will do our annual monitoring. We have projections from member States every year. It is a quite tightly knit a policy context that we're in. And of course we will also use all these all these lessons learned when we're going to be working on the review of the governance regulation. Then last but not least, Mr. Turek, you said you had technical questions. Um, I didn't really recognize them as being so technical because notably, I cannot, uh, give you the hard limit of what, uh, can be done at EU level and what should be done at national level.”
Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
- “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don't know how much time you would allocate to me because there have been many, many questions and we can, of course, expand into all kinds of details. But I'll try to to keep it brief, but nevertheless, I'll take it in the order of the intervention, because otherwise I may lose track. Um, first, um, Mr. Lisa, um, asked about ETS two in particular. Um, if member states will achieve their targets without ETS two. Um, I'm afraid today I cannot give you exactly the the assessment of what it would look like if ETS two was not implemented, but I would like to refer back to, of course, the impact assessments that we had done for the fit for 55 package and the national targets were very much the contribution of ETS. Two was fully embedded. So that was going to provide additional complementary efforts to reduce emissions. It will provide revenues to the member states to reinvest into the renovations of buildings, into making public transport available, into supporting the move to electrical vehicles. Et cetera. Et cetera. So, yes, in our view, it is very much the case that without ETS two, there would be only more difficult to to meet the targets in the member states. Um, then, uh, Mr. Wilkin asked about Lulucf and the just transition now, first on, uh, lulucf. Indeed. This is, uh, this is worrying. We are in, uh, intense dialogue with the member states on this.”
Management of EU forests · Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
- “And this is, of course, constituted from the revenues of the ETS trading system or the emissions trading system, I should say, for buildings and road transport. Now, the Commission will continue to work closely with member states to close the remaining gaps and has provided both horizontal guidance but also Member state specific guidance for the implementation of the plans. Um, the results of this assessment, as my Commissioner Hoekstra indicated at the time of adoption of the assessment, also provides a solid foundation to the discussions on an intermediate climate target for 2040, as foreseen in the European climate law, and a clear 2040 target will really provide further predictability and strengthen the business case for the clean transition as is set out in the plans, and therefore it will also further support achieving the 2030 targets. Now a brief word on the next steps. We are currently assessing the last plans that we received from Slovakia and Estonia. The assessment of these two plans will be published as soon as possible, probably early after the summer. And as I said before, we also hope to receive the Belgian and Polish national energy and Climate Plans, the updated ones, very soon. Um, of course, the Commission will continue the close dialogue with member states and report also on progress in the annual state of the Energy Union and in the Climate Action Progress Report, both due for the autumn, as every year, um, the NAACP's as a governance tool will be reviewed for the post 2030 period in the context of a general review of the governance regulation, uh, that we foresee for, uh, well, probably end of next year.”
Energy (green transition) · Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme · Climate efforts
- “Now, to come to renewable energy there as well. The assessment shows that we're very close to reaching the 42.5 legal commitments at EU level, with two thirds of the member states having raised their renewable energy ambition. For 15 member states, the national contribution is in line with the EU target in the current geopolitical context. And I think Mr. Liisa called it challenging times. This demonstrates that the EU is staying the course on its climate commitments, investing with determination in the clean energy transition, while, of course prioritizing the EU's industrial competitiveness and also paying due attention to the social dimension. Yet we will not hide from the fact that further efforts are needed to meet our commitments to fill the remaining gaps and create the right framework for investments. Now we want to zoom in a little bit on the land sector, which unfortunately has been storing less and less carbon from the atmosphere in recent years. This is a worrying trend. At the aggregate level, we see that there is still a substantial gap of 45 to 60 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent to the EU level targets. And despite the fact that we have more member states on track compared to the draft plans. The EU altogether is not on track to meet the Lulucf targets on energy energy efficiency. The final energy consumption is projected to decline by 8.1%, which is also a 2.3 percentage point improvement compared to the draft plans against the target of 11.7%.”
Energy (green transition) · Climate efforts · Energy efficiency
- “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And good morning, honourable members. It's our pleasure to to present to you today the assessment of the national energy and climate plans, the way they were updated by the member States. I will start with a little background to remind you that the governance regulation requires Member States to prepare these national energy and climate plans, and to outline how member States intend to reach their national greenhouse gas emission targets for 2030 and how they intend to contribute to the EU wide energy targets. Now, these plans are essential tools to deliver a fair, resilient, competitive and climate neutral Europe and to mobilise and steer the much needed investments for the climate and energy transition. Now the deadline for these updated plans was end of June last year, so pretty much one year ago. We have been receiving the plans over the year. And this package that was published 28th of May includes an EU wide assessment of the final updated plans, as well as a staff working document, a very rich document for those of you who want to look into the individual assessments of the 23 national plans that are assessed there, as well as Member States specific guidance to, of course, help the further implementation of the plans. Now, um, as our president, Mrs. von der Leyen, has repeatedly stated in the political guidelines and other papers, the EU's objective of becoming climate neutral by 2050 is our path towards energy security and competitiveness.”
Climate efforts · Energy efficiency
- “Now, in terms of industrial competitiveness, the final needs reflect growing attention to the resilience of supply chains, the promotion of innovation and development of skills. However, again in this area, many plans lack sufficiently specific or actionable targets in these areas. So full implementation of the commitments included in the plans, but also improved clarity on the industrial priorities, will be essential to attract the needed investments and foster competitiveness. Now, all in all, these results provide a solid basis for reaching the 2030 climate and energy targets. And of course, all of that towards the 2050 climate neutrality objective. And this is based on a very comprehensive strategy aiming at fostering competitiveness, energy autonomy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Now, the progress that I just highlighted Are also supported by strategic EU level initiatives to mobilise investment in industrial decarbonisation and clean technology. And here, of course, I'm talking about the clean industrial deal and complemented by the Affordable Energy Action Plan in order to drive investment in energy infrastructure, make the best use of Europe's renewable energy potential and reduce price volatility. So these EU policy actions will also help to deliver lower and more stable energy prices over time. In the meantime, support must really focus on those who need it the most. Member States are due to submit their social climate plans by the end of June. So these days, where they should outline how they will protect vulnerable households and communities during the transition with funding from the Social Climate Fund.”
Climate efforts
- “So that is a very careful balance to be to be found there. Um, and yes, as I said before, um, we will be working with Member States to fill the gaps we have had in detailed discussions on different flexibilities that have also been built into the whole climate policy package, which can be used again, best practices between member states.”
Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme · Carbon leakage support
- “There is the European Court of Justice, of course, for those assessments. And we have had a Court of Justice rulings also in this particular area who have given a clear support for all the climate policies that have been adopted together by the member States and the European Parliament so far as being in line with with the EU treaty. Um, and yes, again, we we acknowledge that there is concern with member states and, uh. And as you call it, disbelief. And that is where we need to work very hard together. And again, I was very impressed with the draft, uh, updated Polish, uh, National Energy and Climate Plan. And it really shows that there is resolve to go into these, uh, you know, clean technologies, that there is huge economic potential. And I think that is already being perceived in Poland. But of course, it needs to be accompanied by the public policy narrative and not against it, because otherwise people will will, will not really understand what is being triggered by what. So, Mr. Chairman, thanks very much. I will leave it there. Thank you.”
Energy transition (state support)
- “And here again, I'm talking about buildings, about transport, about working with member states to target the necessary increase of infrastructure capacity, to look at, uh, the competitiveness of industry. I outlined in my opening words some actions there in the context of the clean industrial deal, but to also very much indeed focus on vulnerable groups. And there, like others have mentioned, um, the climate change impacts also play a very important role. And this is really looked at in an integrated manner. Also, when we try to come up with approaches for buildings, of course we look at, you know, what does that mean? They shouldn't be built or rebuilt in floodplains? They should be built to take into account increasing heat waves, etc.. Coming to Mr. Gerbrandy and a long list of questions. Um, first I have to explain that it's a little bit of a. Yeah, an additional explanation in the footnotes tends to be. But the Polish headline figures. Although Poland has not submitted formally its ECP, its updated NCP, but there has been agreement that we could use the headline figures that were in the papers that they have put out for consultation. So in fact, the the around 54% reduction does take into account where Poland wants to go. And we are still waiting for their formal submission, but they have been taken into account.”
Energy performance of buildings
- “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And to the honourable members. Um, a few more points indeed to, uh, in response to to the interventions. Um, first, indeed on um, support, support for, for these policies and, uh, support in terms of public opinion. Um, I think the analysis, was quite comprehensive, as in what can cause, uh, you know, challenges for for climate policies as well. And this is not intrinsic to the climate policies. It is external factors that indeed, uh, surround us. In the beginning, it was mentioned as geopolitical circumstances or challenging times. Uh, yes. These are there. Um, nevertheless, we hope, I think it is for next week to come with a Eurobarometer that will show that there is still a lot of public support for taking climate action. And this is, of course, also due to the fact that we see increasing climate change impacts all around us, and people do suffer from those as well. Um, and I'm sure that the people do expect, you know, governments and also EU to to come to their if not rescue to their, to their support. And that is indeed, as I said before, what we're trying to do with climate policies, which are in fact also generating revenues that the governments can can use in a very targeted manner to support those who need it.”
Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme · EU climate aid for global South
- “Um, as, uh, as I said before, I mean, yes, we try to support member states in every way we can. We also have the technical support instrument I alluded to to the semester, to the RFPs. Um, yes. This is a cross economy and a cross society transition, uh, that we really want to mobilize all EU instruments and, and, uh, yeah, possibilities to, to support member states in this exercise. Um, there was a question around, uh, what if we, uh, you know, deregulate. Uh, and I think the intervention was very clear that it's not about simplification because presumably simplification can help, but deregulating indeed, in our view, can, or in the sense of undoing a standards and approaches that have been agreed. When it comes to climate change would also have very, very negative consequences. Like you, we hear a lot of companies and even citizens who said, well, we did, you know, invest in this transition. We have gone for the new clean technologies. We have installed a heat pump. We have a, you know, taken action. And what would it mean if if this is now no longer supported or, or required? And that is of course also about stranded assets and stranded efforts and, you know, losing confidence in, in, in EU policies and member states policies.”
Energy (green transition) · Climate efforts
- “So it is all about how we design the policies, how we support those that need support and how we do this together. Um, of course, um, the energy mix, uh, is the discretion of the member states. And again, I want to stress that, uh, in our impact assessments for all our policies, uh, this is taken into account. Uh, there is always a role for for nuclear energy as well, and basically for all low carbon energy sources. And also the renewable targets have been designed with that aspect in mind. And these have, of course, been agreed by the member states. Um, then, um, yes. Again, you you mentioned, uh, we should find smart, uh, solutions. And that is very much what we're trying to do. Uh, only a few weeks ago, there was a workshop in France to discuss, indeed, the best practices under the Social Climate Fund, where France was explaining its experience with social leasing of electrical vehicles, which raised a lot of interest from other member states. So that is indeed about smart solutions. We very much agree with that. Um, then Mr. Von, um, you you spoke about also the impact of climate policy on different, um, on different sectors. And I think they're really, uh, what, uh, is there for member states to, uh, to do is to use the revenues generated from the ETS one, but also ETS two to support, of course, those sectors and the people in those sectors who need to be accompanied in the transition.”
Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme · Energy transition (state support)
- “And notably, we zoom in on the different actions that can be taken. Um, here, of course, we're thinking of, uh, the Common Agricultural Policy, uh, activities as well, where we have the strategic plans we want to try and, uh, discuss with member states how can how they can incentivise further, the farmers too, and foresters of course, towards sustainable practices that will then support reaching the targets to try and see if we can mobilise investments in sustainable forest management, afforestation, peatland restoration, uh, to also uh, indicate and explain and discuss what incentives can be found in moving towards more a bioeconomy, because of course, biomass and bio carbon can be used with a much higher value added in in those approaches. So to basically also create market based incentives for sustainable land practices. And there we are supporting that also through the um, certification of uh, of carbon removals and carbon farming regulation. That was agreed, I think, around one year ago here. Um, when it comes to just transition, um, yes, there is. Well, more work is needed. We have been working with member states, of course, on their just transition plans or territorial just transition plans, which was exactly. Designed. And the just Transition Fund to support regions that do experience impacts from the transition and to work together towards finding a pathway out of or through this transition to make also those regions benefit from more competitiveness and, and a more, uh, you know, climate resilient, um, trajectory.”
Management of EU forests · Nature protection and restoration in the EU