Germany wants robust single energy market, at odds with Britain

The EU Member States in the Conclusions to the European Council, December 2014 called on the European Commission to present a comprehensive Energy Union proposal before the March 2015 European Council.

EurActiv and EUObserver reported in January 2015 of 'non-papers' submitted by a number of Member States presenting their wishes to the European Commission. In particular, the news sources reported of differences between the approach of Germany and the United Kingdom / Czech Republic as to the future EU governance of energy and climate change commitments - with the UK wanting a 'light touch' and 'flexibility', and Germany wanting the adoption of firm laws binding of all nations.

Within the framework of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, an Energy Union Conference was planned for 6 February 2015.

The objective was to encourage the discussion among the Energy Ministers of the EU Member States, representatives from the EU institutions and international organisations, scientists and other energy policy-makers on the new initiative to create a European Energy Union and its dimensions.

In February 2015 the European Commission was due to release their policy paper on the Energy Union concept. Discussions would be continued during the Energy Council (5 March, 2015) which would provide an opportunity for addressing these issues in the European Council later in March 2015.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Elements of Europe's energy union http://www.europeansources.info/record/elements-of-europes-energy-union/

Germany: German non-paper on the 'Energy Union' https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bzzk5QQezBErTFNQQ2ZjMVpBYUU/view

EUObserver, 07.01.15: London and Prague call for 'light touch' on EU climate goals https://euobserver.com/environment/127120

ESO: Background information: Šefčovič tells MEPs he has a vision for EU’s Energy Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/sefcovic-tells-meps-he-has-a-vision-for-eus-energy-union/

ESO: Background information: A New Start for Europe: My Agenda for Jobs, Growth, Fairness and Democratic Change. Political Guidelines for the next European Commission, July 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/a-new-start-for-europe-my-agenda-for-jobs-growth-fairness-and-democratic-change-political-guidelines-for-the-next-european-commission-july-2014/

EUObserver, 19.01.15: Germany wants 'robust and reliable' climate monitoring https://euobserver.com/environment/127285

ESO: Background information: Conclusions on 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework [European Council, 23-24 October 2014] http://www.europeansources.info/record/conclusions-on-2030-climate-and-energy-policy-framework-european-council-23-24-october-2014/

The Guardian, 06.01.15: UK accused of hypocrisy over plans to limit enforcement of EU climate goals http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/06/uk-accused-hypocrisy-plans-limit-enforcement-eu-climate-goals

United Kingdom / Czech Republic: UK and Czech Republic non-paper: European governance of EU Energy policy goals https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bzzk5QQezBErMllObjFUOTREQzA/view

Blog: @StollmeyerEU, 07.01.15: Leaked: UK & CZ on governance of EU energy & climate policy http://stollmeyer.eu/?p=59

Blog: @StollmeyerEU, 19.01.15: Germany means business with EU #EnergyUnion http://stollmeyer.eu/?p=86

European Commission: Commission: Priorities: Energy Union and Climate Change https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/energy-union-and-climate_en

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