Athens, 9 November 2021

Videoconference of European Affairs Committees of EU National Parliaments with Energy Commissioner

In the framework of the parliamentary dimension of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, an informal teleconference was held today of the Chairpersons of the European Affairs Committees of EU National Parliaments with the Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson. The Hellenic Parliament was represented by MP Manoussos Voloudakis, a member of the Special Standing Committee on European Affairs. The participants exchanged views on a set of legislative proposals by the European Commission on adjusting the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (Fit for 55), as well as on the energy transition.

The Energy Commissioner referring to the set of proposals on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade, pointed out, inter alia, the increased target for energy production from renewable sources and the need to make investments in this field. He observed, among other things, that the rise in energy prices makes it necessary to take coordinated actions and he referred to the toolbox of measures presented by the Commission, which member states can use in order to mitigate the impact from the rise in energy prices.

During his intervention, Mr Voloudakis noted that the European Green Deal and the set of proposals for adjusting to the 55% goal (Fit for 55), are perhaps the more long-term policy projects that have ever been undertaken by the EU. He underlined, however, that such long term projects need to incorporate a certain degree of flexibility, especially due to their long-term nature, adding that the European Commission is demonstrating a doctrinal rigidity on issues linked to the transition to a net zero emissions economy. He then pointed out that we find ourselves in the midst of the most acute energy crisis since the late ‘70s, stressing that the recent toolbox presented by the European Commission for the member states to implement to address this phenomenon, contains measures which, despite their long-term significance, don’t provide an answer to the issues that we will face in the difficult winter of 2021/2022. In particular, Mr Voloudakis argued that most of the shorter-term measures in the toolbox are either of a fiscal nature or are related to a reallocation of funds already earmarked for other uses, stressing that they are hard to implement by EU member states currently burdened by the effects of Covid measures on their budgets.

Lastly, Mr Voloudakis pointed out that the Greek Ministers of Finance, the Environment and Energy submitted a letter to the Eurogroup, with specific proposals to tackle the energy crisis, and asked the Commissioner for her view on the proposal regarding additional emissions rights, underlining that its adoption would directly reduce emissions costs and, hence, energy costs for households and businesses, while it would also show that the EU is approaching the issue of the energy crisis and the long-term goals with the flexibility that a realistic assessment of the situation calls for.

 

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