Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Kadri Simson met in Brussels, on Wednesday with four European Commissioners and presented them with the objectives and activities of the Estonian Presidency.
"Estonia will take over the Presidency in interesting times. In transport, we can look forward to the road package altering the entire European Union road transportation and in the energy sector, we need to move forward with the clean energy package, which is massive, four-fifths of the Commission's drafts, "said Simson.
Simson and the European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc agreed at the meeting that the road initiatives submitted on May 31st, will be the key topics of the Estonian Presidency in the field of transport. It is important to find a balance between an open and efficient market, and the social guarantees of road truck drivers. The Commissioner for Transport also welcomed Estonia's intention to begin discussions on the future financing possibilities of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) during the Presidency.
The European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager and Minister Simson both expressed their satisfaction over Estonia’s new renewable energy support schemes principle. At the same time it was stressed that on a technical level it is necessary to negotiate the timing of the implementation of the new scheme. In order to evaluate the resolution of the Gazprom antitrust case, the Commissioner is waiting for information from the Member States and market participants about how the implementation would play out in practice. It is necessary to ensure that the price of gas is based on the logic of competition, that gas moves freely and that the agreements hold fast.
At a meeting with the Energy Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, it was jointly stated that there are many energy drafts in the works during the Estonian Presidency, but that the necessary preparations have been made. Estonia has planned enough discussions to move forward on all issues and opportunities to make the necessary preparations for negotiations with the European Parliament, have been guaranteed to the Member States. Vice-President Šefčovič also considers the discussions on the financing of transport and energy networks important.
The minister stressed the need to Šefčovič to move forward with the Baltic electricity network synchronisation project, based on the analysis results of the European Commission, according to which the most suitable in terms of both the security of supply and cost-effectiveness, is the synchronisation through power lines, situated in two separate route corridors in Poland.
According to the minister the synchronisation with the European energy system must ensure the required level of security of supply of the Baltic countries, the functioning of the electricity market in its current form, and the lowest possible costs to electricity consumers.
At a meeting with the Commissioner for Internal Market and Services Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Estonia’s ability as the Presiding Country to assist in the further development of important EU strategy initiatives, was discussed.
/04.05.2017/