Impending bill : European Union and energy sovereignty

Since the Ukraine-Russia crisis, the European Union has realised the necessity of energy independence from Russia. Members even want to ensure their own energy sovereignty by 2050. Czechia, Portugal, Slovenia and Hungary are the leaders of the bill “European Union’s energy cooperation plan”,  as they want to enhance cooperation between countries of the EU. 

To do so, they want countries to thrive forward an average mix of energies with, for now, certain percentages. Nuclear energy was highly debated but they came to an agreement with a goal of 20% for this cooperation. Then, come 55% of renewable energies as the EU tends to a greener future, 13% of hydrogen and 12% of biogas.  

This bill, while establishing the diversification of energy sources, also assures economic cooperation. They impose a 12% tariff to any country outside of the EU which would like to buy energy from an EU country. The money gathered from these taxes is going to be invested in research for energy efficiency. For this cooperation to work, energy efficiency is essential, especially to transfer energy between European countries.

Facing three other similar bills, one about nuclear energy and two about european cooperation and renewable energies, the “European Union’s energy cooperation plan” bill might have difficulties to pass but these energy policies debates highlight an important EU issue especially in the actual context when the crisis increases daily.