Future Energy Systems

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) claims that the organisation of future energy systems requires responsible political decisions that can indicate the way forwards and whether to prioritise centralised or decentralised elements. The energy transition needs a clear political vision, as it is not just a technological issue but also a profoundly social challenge….

Finland Supports 55% GHG Emissions Reduction for 2030

Finnish Industries says it has identified five conditions that need to be in place to successfully achieve the 2030 emissions reduction target.  Achieving a more ambitious EU 2030 target will however require companies to make unprecedented investments – and within less than a decade, it warns. Therefore, economic reconstruction, recovery funding and climate measures need to…

EP To Vote on Recovery Plan

MEPs are set to demand the European recovery plan dedicates billions to large-scale energy efficiency programmes to lift millions out of energy poverty, in a vote in the European Parliament on Wednesday (16 September).  As energy poverty rates soar due to Covid-19, energy savings and building renovations could finally get the attention they deserve, says…

Armenian Actions in Tovuz Border District Threaten European Energy Security and Geopolitical Stability

By Dr. Ceyhun Osmanli Protests by the Armenian Diaspora in Brussels last week turned violent, with a premeditated attack on the Azerbaijani Embassy. Similar incidents were orchestrated around the globe in what appears to have been a coordinated campaign of terror. In this opinion editorial, our guest correspondent Dr Ceyhun Osmanli warns of the dangers…

Urgent Steps Needed to Prevent National Electricity Blackouts in Ukraine

For more than six months now, Energoatom has been emphasizing that the crisis in the Ukrainian energy sector was caused by the current model of the domestic energy market. Now this position has been confirmed by experts who have made an in-depth and balanced analysis of its causes. The rapid loss of financial liquidity and…

Energoatom Safety Programme

On Thursday 23 July, NNEGC Energoatom received €100 million from the European Nuclear Energy Community for the implementation of the Comprehensive (Consolidated) Safety Improvement Program (CSPP) for Ukrainian NPPs, approved by the government in 2011. This is the third tranche under the loan agreement concluded with Euratom in 2013 and ratified by the Verkhovna Rada…

Guidelines to Prioritise Energy Projects

The Commission should update its guidelines to select priority energy projects that are fully in line with its climate policy, said the European Parliament. The revision of the TEN-E guidelines, to be proposed by the European Commission later this year, should be consistent with EU energy and climate targets for 2030, its long-term commitment on…

Bosnia Bans Hydro

The House of Representatives of the Parliament of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has voted to ban the construction of small hydropower plants across the Federation, in a huge win for communities who depend on the rivers. The decision followed a lengthy campaign by local communities and activists from the national Coalition for the Protection…

Transition to a Climate-Neutral Economy

The EU must transition towards a climate-neutral economy without letting disparities between regions grow any further, say regional development MEPs.  On Monday 6 July, the Regional Development Committee requested a significant increase in the budget allocated from the 2021-2027 financial framework (from EUR 11 270 459 000 in current prices to EUR 25 358 532…