The EU will spend over one to two trillion euro on energy networks by the year 2050, depending on the final decisions to be taken, said Thursday Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Neoclis Sylikiotis.
Speaking at a meeting of the Committee of the Regions of the EU (CoR), in Brussels, Sylikiotis said that saving energy, either by reducing consumption either through more efficient use of energy, will be the focus of the EU energy policy after 2020.
Citizens, companies and industry, he said, must be convinced that rational energy consumption is to their own benefit.
The Minister referred to the work achieved by the Cyprus EU Presidency towards achieving the strategic objective of 20% energy efficiency target by 2020.
As regards the Renewable Energy Sources, Sylikiotis said they will continue to be the focus of future energy policies, and referred to the conclusions adopted by the EU Energy Council during the Cyprus EU Presidency on the issue.
Moreover, Sylikiotis stressed that without the necessary energy infrastructure and connections, the EU energy and climate targets cannot be achieved.
To this end, he continued, the Cyprus Presidency informed the EU Energy Council on the successful outcome of the dialogue with the European Parliament on the Regulations for the Trans-European Energy Infrastructure.
As regards the proposals for the 2050 Energy Roadmap, Sylikiotis said they should be examined and analyzed in detail. Moreover, he said that the impact of such policies on energy prices for consumers, the economy and the competitiveness of each Member State, should be assessed.
The future EU energy policies must be based on energy security, economic competitiveness and reducing greenhouse emissions, he went on to note.
Moreover, he said that the EU, which is a global leader in the fight against climate change, should intensify its efforts on international level to maximize the net benefit of its policies to address climate change and protect environment.
"Therefore, the EU should intensify its actions towards this direction through bilateral contacts with third countries or multilateral international cooperation”, he said.
As regards Cyprus, Sylikiotis said the country is a net importer of energy technology.
He explained that as regards Renewable Energy Sources, apart from some limited production of photovoltaic systems, Cyprus imports the relevant technologies from other Member States or third countries without earning the benefits seen in other countries such as the creation of new jobs.
"Cyprus is isolated from the trans-European energy networks. To maintain the balance of our power system, the percentage of variable sources of energy production that can be incorporated is limited, "he continued.
On the other hand, Sylikiotis said recent discoveries of hydrocarbon reserves in the region of the Southeastern Mediterranean and more specifically in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone "enable us to use a cheaper and climate-friendly raw material, which could contribute to competitiveness.”
He noted that each Member State, each region of the EU should be studied in depth as to how they could contribute to the EU goals, using those technologies that are most advantageous for both the Member State and the EU.
He expressed the view that the European Commission should, after thorough study of the specificities of each Member State, regions and districts, submit a proposal to the EU institutions.
Sylikiotis noted the important role of local and regional administrations to promote the existing and future energy policies of the EU.
"We should consider whether this role needs to be strengthened," he said and referred to the fact that so far 4.458 local and regional authorities have signed a pact for energy sustainability.
In Cyprus, he said, the pact was signed by 12 municipalities and six have already submitted their action plans for promoting sustainability through specific measures for energy savings and the use of renewable energy for power generation, heating, cooling and transport.
"Such initiatives should be encouraged through specific actions," he concluded.
