Publications Archive

Surging energy prices as a result of the Ukraine war are vehemently urging the European Union to turn away from fossil fuels. Brussels therefore sees potential in green hydrogen. The Center for European Policy (cep) considers this energy carrier to be an important, albeit limited, element on the path towards a decarbonized European economy.

In response to the Ukraine war, the European Union wants to completely phase-out imports of fossil fuels from Russia by 2027. By the end of this year, imports of Russian gas are already to be reduced by two thirds. The think tank Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) advocates targeted payments to households and businesses as compensation for further price increases. The Freiburg experts, however, reject the EU-wide price limits for gas and electricity being considered by the EU Commission.

The EU wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. Therefore, the share of renewable energies in the EU shall increase to 40 percent by 2030. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) sees rigid targets for the industry for using renewables as a competitive disadvantage for the EU.

Shortly before the deadline on 21 January, the German government commented on the European Commission's plan to declare nuclear power and natural gas sustainable. The think tank Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) sees a lever to legally stop the taxonomy.

 The European Union wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. With this aim, the production of offshore renewable energy – such as wind, wave and tidal energy – is to be increased fivefold from the current twelve to a total of 61 gigawatts. The amount of renewable energy as a proportion of overall energy consumption is therefore to rise significantly. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) has analysed the EU’s plan.

The EU wants to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas to net zero by 2050, and by 2030 get them down by 55% compared to 1990 levels. To achieve this ambitious goal, the number of energy-efficient building renovations is to at least double by 2030. "Expensive subsidies and small-scale individual regulatory measures should be dispensed in favour of an emissions trading system as the main instrument," demands Martin Menner of the Centre for European Policy (cep).

The EU Commission wants to achieve the goal of climate neutrality of the EU by 2050, e.g., through a comprehensive hydrogen strategy. The aim is to promote hydrogen produced without CO₂ and with low CO₂ emissions. A cepPolicyBrief examines the Commission's communication on the Hydrogen strategy.

The pricing of CO₂ emissions in the transport and building sectors dominates the climate policy debate both in France and in Germany. With a cepInput, cep and cepFrance jointly analyse and evaluate strategies and instruments of carbon pricing in both countries, highlighting differences and similarities.

The cep evaluates in five cepAdhocs Ursula von der Leyen's central work assignments to the new EU commissioners. The second one deals with the topic "A European Green Deal", for which Frans Timmermans will be responsible as Executive Vice-President.

EU gas supply rules have been comprehensively reformed over the last three years. The cep has assessed the reform in an input.