Energy

EU urged not to fund coal mine project in Serbia

19.07.11 @ 19:00

A pending decision by the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction to pay €80 million for the expansion of Serbia's largest coal mine has caused uproar among environmental groups and the local community.

EU wants energy labels for televisions

28.09.10 @ 17:41

The European Commission has proposed that after refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines also televisions will have to be marked with a label indicating how much energy they consume.

Subsidised coal mines to be closed in 2014

21.07.10 @ 09:46

The loss-making hard coal mines in the EU should be closed from October 2014. The European Commission proposed Tuesday a four year extension of state subsidies for the hard coal, with their gradual phasing out. Any state financial aid to the mines will allowed only in case they have a closure plan.

Russian gas pipeline plans make progress

09.04.10 @ 09:54

Russian and EU officials will on Friday mark the start of construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, as Russia strengthens its grip on EU gas supply despite concerns about its reliability.

Commission could overturn 2014 coal subsidy cut-off

16.09.10 @ 09:32

EU energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger sees a "realistic chance" for the EU to extend the deadline for coal subsidies from 2014 to 2018, a move the German politician is pushing for after having let Berlin down during negotiations in Brussels.

US firms seek more influence in central European nuclear power business

20.07.10 @ 09:44

An official US delegation last week undertook a trade mission to the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, showing support for American firms hoping to participate in the building of new nuclear reactors in the region.

EU on track to meet renewable energy target

12.03.10 @ 17:32

The European Union is surpass its target of 20 percent of its consumption of energy from renewable sources by 2020, according to national forecasts submitted to the European Commission.

Ljubljana to house new EU energy body

07.12.09 @ 09:15

Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana has been selected to house the union's Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), designed to boost the idea of a single European market in electricity and gas.

Baltic states eye energy links amid slump

18.06.09 @ 10:13

The eight countries bordering the Baltic Sea and the EU commission on Wednesday signed an agreement to link up the energy networks of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with the wider European grids. Meanwhile, the three Baltic states announced new budget cuts as they struggle with the worst recession since 1990.

MEPs approve softer version of energy law

22.04.09 @ 17:45

The European Parliament has approved a watered-down version of an energy package aimed at further liberalising the bloc's electricity and gas markets, while strengthening consumer rights.

EU consumers to have smart energy meters by 2020

24.03.09 @ 17:37

Some 80 percent of European consumers are set to have smart energy meters installed in their homes by 2020 as part of a deal on liberalising the EU's energy market.

EU arranges anti-gas crisis loan for Ukraine

03.08.09 @ 09:10

The European Commission has helped Ukraine to secure international loans to prevent a repetition of last winter's gas cut-off.

EU states enter bidding contest for new energy body

22.05.09 @ 08:14

Sweden is set to inherit the thorny problem of where to place a number of newly-born European agencies when it takes over the EU presidency on 1 July. Earlier this week, three EU states indicated their interest in hosting the new energy body, proof that the dossier is gaining in political influence.

Moldovan blast impacts EU gas supplies

01.04.09 @ 17:07

Russian gas supplies to Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and the western Balkan countries dropped on Wednesday after a large explosion on a main transit pipeline in Transnistria, the Moldovan breakaway region, highlighting the security gap in EU's immediate neighbourhood.

Foreign ministers haggle over pipeline funding

17.03.09 @ 06:41

EU foreign ministers on Monday failed to reach an agreement over energy and broadband projects worth €5 billion, leaving the decision for the top level summit later this week.