Highlighted the critical role of links between Member States
The Minister of Energy, Giorgos Papanastasiou, described the strategic energy autonomy of the EU as vitally important, pointing out the crucial role of interconnections between member states, as well as member states with third countries to ensure energy supply and increase the penetration of renewable energy sources (RES ).
The positions of Mr. Papanastasiou were made during the informal session of the EU Energy Council, in Valladolid, Spain, where, among other things, open strategic autonomy was discussed with the aim of strengthening the value chain and ensuring security of supply in the EU energy sector.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Energy, in his intervention, Mr. Papanastasiou stated that the open strategic autonomy of the EU in the energy sector is a matter of vital importance for the protection of the EU mainly from external dependencies that have already negatively affected the standard of living of all of the citizens of the Union.
In this context, he pointed out the crucial role of interconnections between Member States, but also between Member States and third countries for securing energy supply, increasing the penetration of RES and strengthening the resilience of energy systems in the EU. Therefore, he pointed out that example the ongoing “EuroAsia Interconnector” project which aims to create a corridor through which the EU will be able to safely supply and receive electricity.
He also referred to the need for safe, affordable and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and to mitigate risks in supply chains. As he explained, the EU's energy autonomy can be strengthened, among other things, by reducing the administrative burden, facilitating procedures in projects involving critical raw materials, strengthening relations with reliable partners for the development and diversification of investments and promoting of stability, the strengthening of initiatives in the extraction of critical raw materials, as well as the strengthening of the production capabilities of zero-emission technologies.
Closing, the Minister of Energy pointed out that it is extremely important to strengthen the support of civil society, to maintain energy prices at affordable prices for citizens as well as the provision of targeted information about the multiple benefits of the green transition.
Mr. Papanastasiou participated yesterday in a joint informal meeting of the EU Ministers of Environment and Energy, with on the preparation for the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 28), which will take place in November and December 2023 in Dubai.
