Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Dr Robert Habeck is travelling to Luxembourg today to attend the meeting of EU Energy Ministers. The Ministers will be discussing the current energy situation and take important decisions on the ‘Fit for 55’ package, including the general approaches on the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Renewable Energy Directive. In 2021, the European Commission had submitted legislative proposals for these two Directives in the context of the ‘Fit for 55’ package with the aim of stipulating a greater share of renewables by 2030 and expanding the respective measures at European level. The adjustments are an essential element of the ‘Fit for 55’ package to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by at least 55% by 2030 compared with the reference year of 1990 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Directly after the Energy Council, the Council of Environment Ministers will take place on Tuesday. Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Dr Robert Habeck and Federal Minister for Environment and Consumer Protection Steffi Lembke will both attend the meeting on behalf of the German Federal Government.

Federal Minister Habeck said: "Today is an important day for the European energy transition and for climate action in Europe. During today’s consultations, we want to make progress on the first part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package and adopt the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive. Expanding the use of renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency is more important than ever, and it is no longer only a matter of climate policy, but also a matter of security policy. We need to become independent of Russian imports as soon as possible. We must step up the pace of climate action and the expansion of renewable energy in Europe and be more resolute when it comes to saving energy."

Apart from the general approaches on the EU Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive, the items of the agenda of the Energy Council include the progress reports on the EU Methane Regulation and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. In addition, the Ministers will be exchanging views on the energy situation in the EU against the background of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Furthermore, they intend to adopt the EU Regulation on Gas Storage.

On the margins of the Energy Council, Federal Minister Habeck will sign a regional Memorandum of Understanding on intensified cooperation during potential electricity supply crises with the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary. The MoU is to serve as an important basis for further collaboration between the respective countries and the development of regional measures in the event of crises.
Further legislative dossiers in the areas of environment policy and climate policy under the ‘Fit for 55’ package will be discussed tomorrow at the Council of Environment Ministers. Negotiations on these dossiers will be continued during the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will start on 1 July 2022.