Monitoring the EU ‘Clean Energy for All’ Package and Analyzing Implications for Southern Mediterranean Countries

Status: Active

Tags: Algeria / Mediterranean Region / Morocco / Tunisia / Europe / Climate / Energy / Environment / Natural Resources / 2016

Since the “Clean Energy for All Europeans” Package: Implications and Opportunities for the Mediterranean was published, it has been presented on the occasion of COP 25 and at various events, such as the CLIMED conference at Ecole Polytechnique in November 2019 and at the UfM Energy Platform meeting in Barcelona in January 2020

Since the Briefing Paper was published, the European Parliament has declared climate emergency, the European Council has endorsed the objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and the EU Commission has issued the European Green Deal communication, to establish a roadmap to achieve this objective, while preserving/enhancing economic growth, enhancing EU competitiveness and leaving no one behind (i.e. ensuring a just transition). In addition, the coronavirus epidemic has hit Europe severely, resulting in an economic recession that may last months if not years. Stimulus packages are being formulated to catalyze the economic recovery, and all European institutions and EU Member States are being encouraged to design stimulus packages that are compatible with the Green Deal. These developments will require establishing new financing instruments, enacting new Directives and implementing legislation and probably a revamping of the various legislative documents adopted under the CE4ALL Package.

As part of its mandate to disseminate knowledge, the CMI Forum on Electricity and Climate Change monitors changes in, and implementation of, the EU Clean Energy for All Package and analyzes implications for SEMC. For instance, two aspects of the Package that are the most relevant to SEMC were defined in late 2020-- the EU Financing Mechanism and the new Connecting Europe Facility—and the implications were reported in the Insight Bulletin. The Forum regularly informs its members through virtual or live workshops, blogs and occasional bulletins on the relevant developments. Moreover, if and when required, a complement of the Briefing Paper will be issued to analyze the implications for SEMC of development since August 2019.

Finally, some complementary activities are being undertaken, such as training/capacity building, analytical support for NDC revisions or infrastructure investment for regional integration and advisory services on green stimulus packages.