- The Council's position on the Methane Regulation weakens leakage reduction measures and does nothing to slash emissions from imports.
- Czech EU Presidency remains stubborn on the 40% EU renewable target despite a significant number of Member States, civil society and businesses supporting higher ambition.
- The push for low carbon threatens the credibility of the EU's renewables push.
Brussels, 16 December – On Monday, 19 December, EU Energy Ministers, alongside finalising negotiations on gas price cap, will discuss three key major legislative pieces in the Energy Council: the progress report on the ‘Gas Package', a general approach on the Methane Regulation and possibly a general approach for the Renewable Energy Directive IV*. The Czech EU Presidency is looking to push through weakened legislation to be agreed before the end of the year, when the Swedish Presidency will take over for the first half of 2023.
Low carbon hydrogen coming through the back door
France and Central and Eastern European countries are pushing to introduce a new article in the Gas Directive amending the Renewable Energy Directive to factor in low carbon fuels. Basically this would allow fossil and nuclear based hydrogen to be taken into account for renewable hydrogen targets in industry and transport. This is despite the Council's legal service having repeatedly highlighted the fact that existing primary legislation cannot be amended through another set of primary legislation. The new article is to be adopted in a progress report by Energy Ministers next week. Renewable energy industry and NGOs have issued a joint statement against this low carbon push. The upcoming Swedish EU presidency must ensure policy coherence by keeping the renewables directive for renewables only.
