Energy Strategy 2020 (Communication)

The planned improvement of coordination and the future-oriented planning of cross-border infrastructure development in the EU is necessary in order to implement the internal energy market and to ensure that the infrastructure can keep apace with the politically driven development of renewable energies. As energy efficiency should be achieved at the lowest possible costs, it is to be welcomed that the Commission wishes to apply market-oriented instruments, such as the labelling of the energy consumption of products. The proposed “streamlining” of the permitting procedures for infrastructure projects of “European interest” potentially interferes strongly with the Member States’ planning right and the participation rights of parties affected and the public.