Vienna (OTS) –
Debates about geopolitics, competitiveness and climate neutrality have Europe firmly in their grip. In the run-up to the European elections in 2024, Oesterreichs Energie also dedicated a trend forum to the pressing questions of European energy policy.
Europe’s energy policy is at a turning point. “Sustainability, security of supply and competitiveness play a crucial role in Europe’s energy policy goals today and are also of serious importance for Austria’s future.”
said Barbara Schmidt, who opened the Austrian Energy Trend Forum on May 6th. This makes it all the more important to look outside the box.
“No country can afford to ignore developments relating to energy. Europe must make groundbreaking decisions today for its own future. We observe that interest in climate change wanes when the crisis increases – for example due to war or the energy crisis,” emphasized Velina Tchakarova, security expert and founder of the consulting company FACE For A Conscious Experience eU, in her opening speech. All the more reason for a fact-based and politically justified energy policy.
Michael Strugl, President of Oesterreichs Energie, highlighted the need for integrated planning: “The transformation needs a European approach. We need more market integration for security of supply and competitiveness for the European location. A European internal electricity market prevents excess capacity, which is expensive and inefficient, and thus strengthens the competitiveness of European industry. The electricity market doesn’t need less, but more Europe.”
Strengthen Europe’s independence
One of the EU’s most important goals is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. At the same time, cooperation within Europe must be placed on a stable, future-oriented basis. “The EU internal market has not yet been sufficiently advanced. It is crucial right now that we reorganize this in view of the changed geopolitical situation, as it is central to the competitiveness of the EU,” said Barbara Steffner, Head of Economic and Social Affairs, European Commission, Representation in Austria. It should not fail because of national egoism.
Steffner is not afraid that the competition will fall by the wayside. Because the energy transition and competitiveness do not contradict each other, but complement each other, even if there are always different weightings. “In the last five years, the Green Deal and climate neutrality have been dominant. We have initiated many laws and investments. Now it’s about implementation and getting into action.”
Transformation of the energy system requires decisions with foresight
But what is urgently needed is more speed. “When it comes to expanding key technologies for clean energy supply such as solar, wind, heat pumps, batteries or electrolysers, the EU must become faster – in order to advance climate protection and strengthen Europe’s energy security,” said Matthias Buck, Europe Director at Agora Energiewende. Fossil fuels created a structural dependence on imports in Europe. “Green lead technologies can permanently reduce existing import dependencies thanks to ongoing increases in efficiency and in combination with recycling of rare raw materials,” continues Buck.
Buck does not see a conflict of objectives, on the contrary: “Energy security and the expansion of renewable energies go hand in hand.” Renewable energies are locally available and inexpensive. That’s why all scenarios for climate neutrality in the EU envisage a very high proportion of renewable energy sources, says Buck.
Paul Schmidt, Secretary General of the Austrian Society for European Politics, called for better coordination and cooperation at the European level: “In order to create more willingness to cooperate, we need a policy that looks outside the box and also beyond the next election date.” Because there is more that can be done. “The ambitious goals we have set for ourselves are good, now it’s about implementing them at the national level. And yes, this means change and costs money, there are not always winners. But doing nothing is much more expensive for us.”
The necessary investments that will be needed for a resilient and sustainable energy policy in Europe must pay off – by generating a lot of domestic added value and bringing about innovations.
Questions & Contact:
Austria’s energy
Christian Zwittnig
Press spokesman
0043 1 50198 – 260; Mobil: 0043 676 845019260
presse@oesterreichsenergie.at
www.oesterreichsenergie.at