EU’s energy project list denounced by unimpressed MEPs
A proposed list of priority energy projects drawn up by the European Commission has come under intense scrutiny by MEPs, some of whom accuse the EU executive of focusing too heavily on fossil fuel projects. The most critical voices plan to launch a landmark objection to the list.
Two months ago, the Commission presented its projects of common interest (PCI) list, which includes energy infrastructure projects like electricity interconnectors and gas pipelines, meant to help the EU meet its energy and climate objectives, EurActiv reports.
On Tuesday (23 January), MEPs grilled the EU executive about the list, demanding to know how its energy directorate chose what to include and remove from the list. Commission representative Catharina Sikow-Magny was given a rough ride by the European lawmakers.
The main points raised by members of the energy committee (ITRE) included concerns about the number of gas projects on the list, the methodology used by the Commission to compile the list and the level of transparency deployed.
The EU will exhaust its share of the global carbon budget within nine years and jeopardise the Paris Agreement’s two degrees target if emissions from fossil fuels continue at their current rate, a new study warns.
S&D group MEPs Kathleen Van Brempt and Dan Nica both criticised the Commission for not involving the Parliament at an earlier stage. Van Brempt said there had been “too little dialogue with ITRE on how the list is compiled”.
Romanian lawmaker Nica told Sikow-Magny that her institution should in the future approach the PCI list, which is revised every two years, “in a more transparent manner”.
The Commission representative replied that she would be willing to come before the committee more often and even suggested that Energy Union boss Maroš Šefčovič could be persuaded to debate with the MEPs.
