The Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee published its Draft Report on the Proposal for a regulation to improve the Union’s electricity market design. According to the publicly available agenda, amendments to the Proposal to reform the Electricity Market Design rules (EMD) can be tabled until 7 July. The vote will be held on 19 July in the ITRE Committee, and on 11 September in Plenary. The latter will then launch the trilogue phase. For more information, please contact Ennio Prizzi.
Our Weekly News last week specified an expected vote in the Council Preparatory body, COREPER, scheduled for 17 May and an ITRE Committee vote in the European Parliament for 23 May. However, both of these votes were cancelled last minute due to concerns surrounding the rules for the treatment of hydrogen as produced from nuclear energy. At present, this does not appear to threaten the deal on bioenergy or the overall agreement. For more information, please contact Daniel Reinemann.
On 11 May, a working group of EU countries met to discuss the minimum tax rates that should be enshrined in the new ETD, the first meeting of its kind since the reform was launched almost two years ago. Establishing a consensus on minimum tax rates is proving difficult. The Swedes, who hold the EU’s rotating presidency until July, have no real hope of finding an agreement on the ETD during their six-month stint. Hence, the file will be handed over to the Spanish presidency. Spain declined to comment on the record. But their successor, Belgium, expects having to deal with ETD negotiations in 2024.
This year, all success stories will be grouped under the theme of “Getting rid of fossil fuels”. We want to feature the diverse use of bioenergy at an individual, residential, local or national level – and promote stories that show the significance of our sector, especially when thinking about energy security and independence from Russian gas and fossil fuels in general. Your contribution is key to making this campaign a success! We invite Members who haven’t already done so to share a success story from their particular countries (text around 500 words + pictures; optional: video material, factsheets, etc.) to Diana Nicolaescu.
