EXCLUSIVE / A proposal to limit the state aid
that EU governments can offer their energy sectors would do “massive
harm” to industry and needs to be “thoroughly revised,” according to a
position paper signed by the UK, Germany, France and several other
countries.
The policy document, which EurActiv has
seen, is a ‘living paper’ that was submitted to the European Commission
two weeks ago, and may be updated soon.
Its strong language reflects alarm in several European capitals that
the proposed guidelines could barricade planned transitions by Germany
and the UK towards renewable and nuclear energy-based systems,
respectively.
“Many of the Commission’s proposals are too detailed, too narrow or,
given the lack of experience in a complex, dynamically developing field,
quite simply premature,” the paper says.
“The detailed rules on the funding mechanism for renewable energy and
the opening up of the funding systems for other countries are too
restrictive,” it adds.
Criticism is also leveled at “unacceptable” exemptions for
electricity-intensive industries, and rules on capacity mechanisms for
which, the states say, it is “too early”.
The paper is signed by Germany, the UK, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, France, Austria and Luxembourg.
