The Energy Council held an exchange of views on the European Commission's assessment of the draft national energy and climate plans (NECPs). Ministers focused on how to ensure that the ambition levels of national contributions in the final NECPs will be high enough to meet the EU-wide 2030 targets. Some member states signalled that they are ready to increase their national ambition so that the EU can collectively meet the 2030 energy targets.
The head of the Hungarian delegation, Péter Kaderják, Minister of State for climate and energy policy underlined that Hungary is committed to implement the 2030 EU energy and climate targets, and we contribute to the achievement of these targets according to our capabilities. Hungary has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 32% compared to the 1990 level, electricity production is 60% carbon free, we have already achieved our 2020 renewable energy target and GHG emission and energy use per capita is far below the EU average. In our view, in the fight against climate change the main driver of the future framework is the greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy and energy efficiency are one of the tools for achieving this. Careful planning and impact assessment should precede any new decision on the ambition level in order to have realistic and credible final plans. We are also considering to raise minimally our renewable target while assessing its costs and impacts on the final energy price. It is important not to reduce the cohesion funds dedicated to the support for energy efficiency and renewable energy in the new Multiannual Financial Framework. To raise the level of ambition European funds should be raised proportionally. To be credible, it is essential to have adequate union funding behind the ambition.
Ministers exchanged views on ways and means of achieving climate neutrality in the energy sector and the contribution of innovative technologies to this goal. According to the Hungarian position, gradual and credible progress towards climate target should be balanced with enforced market integration, and security of supply. An (almost) complete decarbonisation of the fully integrated EU electricity sector should be at the heart of our pre- and beyond-2030 energy and climate policy with ambitious climate objectives.
The Commission informed ministers on security of gas supply with view to the incoming winter 2019-2020. The Hungarian comment reminded ministers and the Commission that there would be a risk to Hungary's gas supply after 2019 if Ukrainian transit were terminated at the Beregdaróc entry point. The Task Force set up for the winter prepared and implemented an action plan for infrastructural developments, injection strategy to our storages, execution of gas supply contracts, negotiations with our neighbouring countries and Russia regarding the gas supplies beyond 2020.
