Highlights from the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy) held on 24 September 2019 in Brussels.
Main results
Infographic - National energy and climate plans
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National Energy and Climate Plans
The Council held an exchange of views on the European Commission's assessment of the draft national energy and climate plans (NECPs). Ministers focused on how to ensure that the ambition levels of national contributions in the final NECPs will be high enough to meet the EU-wide 2030 targets.
I am pleased that many member states are ready to increase their national ambition so that we can collectively meet our energy targets for 2030. We had a very positive discussion that I hope will help member states when they finalise their plans before the end of the year.
Katri Kulmuni, Minister for Economic Affairs of Finland and chair of the Council
Besides the NECPs, the discussion also addressed what role the Council should have in the framework of the governance mechanism of the Energy Union. The discussion showed that member states want an active role for the Council, accompanying and monitoring the process of preparing and implementing the NECPs.
EU energy ministers discussed how to make the energy sector climate neutral.
The energy sector beyond 2030: Towards climate neutrality
Ministers exchanged views on ways and means of achieving climate neutrality in the energy sector. The discussion was open and wide-ranging. Among the key areas raised by delegations were research and innovation in carbon-neutral technologies, regional cooperation and the need for a just transition. Ministers highlighted that they attach great importance to the question of how to achieve climate neutrality in energy systems, while ensuring the security of supply and the competitiveness of the European economy.
The debate was animated by a video with messages from business leaders, researchers, NGOs and other stakeholders who are actively contributing to the energy transition.
- Watch the recording of the debate here
- A clean planet for all: A European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate-neutral economy
Other items on the agenda
The Commission informed the Council about the security of gas supply during the upcoming winter 2019-2020. The Commission highlighted that the trilateral talks with Russia and Ukraine on the future of gas transit, which were held on 19 September 2019, took place in a positive atmosphere and created the conditions for finding an agreement before the end of the year.
The Austrian delegation provided information on the latest developments of the hydrogen initiative. This initiative was launched during the Austrian Presidency in September 2018 and aims to maximise the potential of sustainable hydrogen to decarbonise the energy system and ensure long-term energy security.
The delegation of Luxembourg raised the ongoing modernisation and review of the Energy Charter Treaty and called for a stronger focus on climate action in the modernisation process.
Finally, the Lithuanian delegation informed ministers about the Astravets nuclear power plant in Belarus and the results of the Belarussian 'stress tests'.
