December 16, 2008

Energy to get its own DG


Energy is quickly moving up the EU's list of priorities, as evidenced by the recent EU Council commitment to (and subsequent European Parliament approval of) the ambitious 'climate package' on boosting renewable energy, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and increasing EU energy efficiency. This has been underlined with the 3 December announcement by Commission President Manuel Barroso of the creation, over the next year, of a dedicated energy directorate-general. Currently, energy and transport share a single 'hybrid' DG under Commissioners Andris Piebalgs and Antonio Tajani respectively. Speculation is growing that Member States will create a new Commissioner portfolio in charge of ''energy and climate change'' after the European Parliament elections in June. However, as of now, climate change remains as a unit within the larger DG Environment.

Posted by iroronan at December 16, 2008 03:16 PM