Objective of the consultation on the ENERGY ROADMAP 2050

The European Commission will put forward an Energy Roadmap 2050 in the second part 2011. It will follow the Roadmap for a Low-Carbon Economy by 2050 which will focus on reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across the EU economy, in the context of the European Council's target of an 80-95% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2050.

The Energy Roadmap 2050 will aim at presenting different pathways to reach the objectives in the sector. It will address the established objectives of EU energy policy – sustainability, energy security and competitiveness, and focus on how energy security and competitiveness can be improved throughout the transition to a low-carbon energy system.

Objective of the consultation on the EXTERNAL DIMENSION of the EU energy policy

The aims of the EU energy policy, as set in Article 194 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, are to ensure the functioning of the energy market, to ensure security of energy supply in the Union, to promote energy efficiency and energy saving and the development of new and renewable forms of energy, and to promote the interconnection of energy networks. These aims have to be pursued in a spirit of solidarity among Member States. None of them can successfully be met without taking into account major evolutions on the energy scene beyond the EU borders.

The external dimension therefore needs to be a full part in the recent and forthcoming initiatives in the energy field. This will require a coordinated, efficient and prioritised external energy policy. For this reason the Communication "Energy 2020 - A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy" recognised the need to strengthen the external dimension of the EU energy policy as one of the key priorities in the coming years.

The objective of the consultation is to seek interested parties' views on possible priorities and possible new initiatives in the field of external energy policy.

For further information and to take part in the consultation, please click here.