EU sets tough energy targets

Malta will have to reach tough environmental targets by 2020 following the conclusion of a two-day European Union summit in Brussels, although the precise levels have still to be established.

EU leaders agreed that in 13 years' time, the Union's global greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, should be reduced by at least 20 per cent and that a 20 per cent share of all energy consumption in the EU should come from renewable energy, such as wind and solar. It was also agreed that 10 per cent of all the fuel used for transport will be derived from biofuels.

However, the European Council agreed to a proposal made by Malta and member states that targets should vary according to the circumstances of each country. In fact the summit's conclusions stated that:

"From the overall renewable target, differentiated national overall targets should be derived with member states' full involvement with due regard to a fair and adequate allocation taking account of different national starting points and potentials, including the existing level of renewable energies and energy mix."

National targets will now be set during forthcoming discussions between the Commission and member states.

Malta is currently almost totally dependent on fossil fuel for the production of its energy needs. This is now set to change over the next decade and a half.

Addressing a press conference following the summit, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi admitted that the binding targets will not be easy to meet, but he added that Malta was determined to give its fair share in the fight against global warming.

He said: "We are fully in favour of the EU being at the forefront of measures to combat climate change. We agree that we should do more to reduce our energy consumption and our dependence on fossil fuels. That is why we agreed that these targets should be reached and should be binding, depending on each member state."

Dr Gonzi said the government had already taken the decision to connect Malta to the EU electricity grid, through a new submarine cable between Malta and Sicily. Financial feasibility studies were being completed in order to determine whether Malta should also tap specific EU funds for this project.

On wind energy and the possibility of having an offshore wind farm, Dr Gonzi didn't seem convinced that this will materialise shortly. He said that although the process of evaluating a call for proposals issued last year by the government was still underway, the current existing technology did not seem adequate for Malta's particular needs.

Wind farm technology currently caters for low sea depths of around 15 to 20 metres. Malta's sea depths around the island vary from 50 to 100 metres.

Dr Gonzi said that as a result of yesterday's agreement, he was sure that in the coming years, industry would invest much more money to improve renewable energy technology. This should in turn have a positive impact on member states that were still facing technical constraints.

The EU summit also discussed the progress so far achieved in the growth and jobs strategy better known as the Lisbon agenda.

Dr Gonzi said that Malta had achieved good results in the past few years, particularly in consolidating its public finances and fiscal discipline and in creating a stronger economy. Over the past two years, more than 6,100 new jobs had been created and more women were graduating and entering the labour market.

The government also wanted to continue to cut red tape and administrative burdens on SMEs and the economy. He said a simplification plan that includes 110 specific measures to reduce these burdens will be completed by the end of this year.

EU leaders yesterday agreed that administrative burdens arising from EU legislation should be reduced by 25 per cent by 2012.