Our messages for the EU elections
Our vision for the 2035 is that customers, society and environment will gain new wellbeing from carbon-neutral energy. Finland's energy production is well on track in this direction: electricity production is already carbon neutral, and emissions from district heating production will be close to zero by 2030. We see that if this is possible in Finland, it is also possible in the rest of the European Union.
When we talk about the future of energy policy, we must focus on how to achieve secure, competitive and clean energy. The 2040 climate target, halting biodiversity loss and advanced markets require clarity on energy policy, this means:
- Well-functioning electricity market
- Strong infrastructure
- Clean economy
- Environment and energy cooperating together
Well-functioning electricity market
To ensure a well-functioning electricity market in the coming years, it is important that the EU has a clear route out of the crisis-era. State-aid that restricts and discourages market-driven investment should be eliminated or at least opened to competition. This will promote free competition and a functioning market. The importance and unnecessary nature of regulation must also be recognised in the financial markets.
Finnish Energy encourages an evaluation and coherence of the regulation of energy communities and small-scale production – by other words, a fitness check. At present, regulation is fragmented into different provisions, creating a multitude of different legal frameworks for operating. We should be able to dismantle cross-subsidies, where all users participate on a level playing field in network costs and the energy system. The future must be fair with clear rules of the game.
Strong infrastructure
Strong infrastructure is achieved by strengthening the conditions for network investment and providing customers with alternative heating infrastructure.
We want to highlight the importance to the development of a proactive and planned network. This will be achieved by ensuring incentives to invest in network reinforcement and renewal, digitalisation, and increased flexibility. The aim should be to enable cost-effective network development while ensuring a balance between operational and investment costs.
Targets should be set for alternative heating infrastructure and Member states should ensure that customers have access to alternative heating. The fragmented regulation of energy use and heating in buildings should be simplified and focused on guiding objectives. Regulation of energy efficiency in construction should focus on technology-neutral aspects such as emissions and flexibility.
Emission-free and clean economy
Finnish Energy believes that the best way to reduce climate emissions from electricity and heat is by developing the Emissions Trading Scheme. Emissions trading should cover most, if not all, of the EU’s emissions and it must be ensured, especially for heating. Emissions will also be at the heart of the development of electrification rules.
To achieve a clean and emission-free economy, all forms of zero-emission and carbon-neutral production should be available to investors. Energy efficiency policy measures must support the climate target and energy efficiency regulation should be simplified. Instead of limiting consumption, energy efficiency targets should promote emission reductions and consider the technologies needed for a clean transition on a Member State-by-Member State basis.
Environment and energy in collaboration
Environmental authorisation procedures need to be streamlined and the scattered authorisation legislation in different regulations should be brought together in a single European procedural directive or regulation. Climate change, biodiversity loss, the circular economy and non-pollution should be addressed together, focusing on overall sustainability. In order to be able to assess the impact on nature, harmonised EU-level sustainability indicators should be developed.
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