Mit - Index

Mit - SINFO March 2008 No.5 - Index

INTErview
THE THIRd PACKAGE fOR LIBERALISING
THE ELECTRICITy ANd GAS MARKETS?
Andrej Vizjak: The Slovenian Presidency has managed to
resolve an uncertain and somewhat controversial situation. The
prevailing position is that the only possible way is the solution
proposed by the European Commission and which goes towards
ownership separation of production and transfer. Eight countries
have compiled an alternative proposal and the issue is expected
to be resolved by this June. The Presidency does not favour any
solutions ahead of others and is in the role of coordinator.Energy
will be in the focus of the EU Summit, not only as part of the
energy and environment package, which presents Europe as a
driving force in the fight against energy and climate challenges.
It is important that the discussion is continued while countries
are united in the opinion that political agreement should be
reached by the meeting of the EU Energy Council in June. It
is encouraging that all EU Member States are willing to build
forward and look for the basis for a political decision, which is
expected to be made by the June meeting of energy ministers.
The Slovenian Presidency has also adopted the Strategic Energy
Technology Plan, and its essence is creating opportunities out of
problems. Economy ministers discussed the legislation package
at three councils, at the Council on Competitiveness, the Council
on Energy and the Council of Trade Ministers, because we are
convinced that foreign trade is also closely connected to this
issue.
WHAT WILL BE SLOvENIA’S COSTS fOR
ACHIEvING THE GOALS Of THE ENERGy
ANd ENvIRONMENT PACKAGE?
Andrej Vizjak: About 0.86% of GDP a year. Agreement and
cooperation between the executive branch of power and
the economy are of a key importance for the set goals to be
achieved, because the package is a great challenge, in particular
for energy-intensive industries. It must not be forgotten that both
dossiers − the environmental package and the third package for
liberalising the electricity and gas markets − are currently among
the most topical issues in the EU. The countries are negotiating
on both dossiers, but negotiations are still in the initial phase.
dRAfT CONCLUSIONS ON THE
REdUCTION Of CARBON dIOXIdE
EMISSIONS ANd INCREASING
RENEWABLE ENERGy SOURCES
ARE THEREfORE EXPECTEd TO BE
fINALISEd, WHILE THERE ARE MORE
dILEMMAS REGARdING BIOfUELS.
Janez Podobnik: The key element is the application of
sustainable criteria for biofuels. The Slovenian Presidency has
set an ambitious goal: concluding negotiations by the end of
2008, so that the European Parliament could do its job by most
probably the April session, which will be the last session before
the 2009 European Parliament election. I expect the countries
to put forward guidelines for further negotiations. I also expect
that we will send a clear message to the EU summit that we
will reduce CO 2 emissions, because the EU has the technological
and financial capacity to do so. With reconfirmed commitments,
the EU will preserve its credibility in third countries. Respect
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for sustainable criteria is very important for biofuels, and the
proposal on carbon dioxide capture and storage will be of
key importance after 2020. The work on all proposals of the
energy and environment package should be continued at
the same pace. The countries have committed themselves
to the fastest possible progress, so that the EU Council in
the cooperation with the European Parliament could reach
a definite agreement at the beginning of 2009 at the latest.
Andrej Vizjak: Slovenia has been preparing thoroughly for
the action plans which will have to be created. Regarding the
reduction of pollution and increasing renewable energy sources,
I expect calls for the prompt adoption of the package, therefore,
by the end of 2008, during the current term of the European
Commission and the European Parliament. In future negotiations
the EU will seek a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,
although the EU environment ministers committed last March
to achieving a 20% reduction. This is the basis on which we
are working. The Commission has already prepared provisions
to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% if necessary. In this
case, the highest value within the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS)
would have to be ≈amended and adjusted«, and the sectors not
included in the ETS would also have to be adjusted. There is
enough time before 2009 for the adjustment, as the rest is to
remain unchanged. The key part of the package is a scheme of
greenhouse gas trading. This is a scheme in which the producers
of emissions trade emission coupons. The new scheme of
greenhouse gas trade, which includes all major industrial
polluters, envisages the total amount of emission coupons at
the EU level and not for each individual country separately,
and the sale of the majority of permissions at auctions in EU
Member States, which have to be open to all potential buyers.
Households, construction, transport, the agriculture sector and
waste are not included in the ETS. The ETS includes all major
industrial polluters − there are currently about 10,000 such
plants. According to the new proposal, plants which emit less
than 10,000 tonnes of CO 2 will not be included in the system.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
INCREASEd By 70% BETWEEN 1970
ANd 2004 AS A CONSEqUENCE Of
HUMAN ACTIvITy. THE yEAR 2007 WAS
EXPECTEd TO BE A TURNING POINT IN
THE INTERNATIONAL fIGHT AGAINST
CLIMATE CHANGE.
Janez Podobnik: It is important that both developed and
third world countries have agreed on the necessity of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change is at the same time
a developmental issue. The objective of reducing the number of
people living in poverty by half by 2015 will not be achieved if we
do not pay attention to natural resources and the environment
which we all depend on. I admit that achieving development
goals and the simultaneous reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions is not an easy task. Climate change is high on political
agendas, because of scientific evidence and increased public
attention, and the UN has presented an adequate multilateral
framework for tackling the issue.