by Luis de Sousa
Fri May 7th, 2010 at 02:19:28 PM EST
The Commission has opened two very important public consultations: one on Transport and another on Energy. The first is on the proposed implementation of the trans-European transport network policy (TEN-T). The second is more wide, regarding the Energy Strategy for the period 2011-2020.
Links and resources below the fold.
Consultation on the Future Trans-European Transport Network
With the Green Paper on the future development of the trans-European transport network, published in February 2009, the Commission had launched a review of the TEN-T policy. The proposed concept of a dual layer planning approach with a "core network" as the top layer of the TEN-T was supported by the majority of stakeholders, as well as the EU institutions and consultative bodies. Based on these reactions, and also drawing on the work of six expert groups dealing with specific issues of TEN-T planning and implementation, the Commission has elaborated a proposal for a new methodology for TEN-T planning. In this context, the Commission has also further developed its reflections on financial and non-financial instruments for TEN-T implementation.
The Commission Working Document "Consultation on the future trans-European transport network policy", which includes as main elements this proposed planning methodology and some ideas on how to enhance the effectiveness of instruments for TEN-T implementation, invites stakeholders to express their views and constitutes the second important milestone of the TEN-T policy review process.
This consultation is open until the 15th of September of 2010. Submissions should be sent to MOVE-TEN-T-POLICY-REVISION@ec.europa.eu.
The background document is Consultation on the Future Trans-European Transport Network [pdf 57Kb]. The full TEN-T guidelines is a rather dense document that can be downloaded from here [pdf 13 Mb]
Towards a new Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020
The overall goal of European energy policy is to ensure that consumers and enterprises obtain safe, secure, sustainable and low-carbon energy at affordable and competitive prices. The challenges of global energy security and energy geopolitics, slow progress in combating climate change at the global level, the urge to recover on growth and jobs in the EU and the need to invest in tomorrow's energy networks call for a new Energy Strategy to further deliver on those objectives.
Completing the internal energy market, achieving energy savings and promoting low-carbon innovation are the main vectors to reach the objectives of competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply. An open global business climate and a more coherent and effective approach to the EU external energy relations will also help us to reach our objectives.
This consultation is open until the 2nd of July of 2010. Submissions should be sent to ENER-ACTION-PLAN.
The background document is Towards a new Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020 [pdf 79Kb].
Policy-makers want to ear from us. Let them have some feedback, at least they'll know someone actually cares about what they do.
