The energy transition is a European topic. The German electricity system is not only connected through transmission lines with its neighbours, it is obviously part of the European internal energy market. Energy is a shared competency in Europe.
Part of it is in the hands of the Member States (e.g. the overall energy mix), part is regulated by European law. Already in the past 20 years, national energy systems have been integrated to a certain extent: day-ahead markets are coupled, targets for renewable energy are set in European law, and numerous rules for system operation being coordinated.
The current European Commission plans to put forward a series of new legislative initiatives to accelerate market integration. Amongst these initiatives are
- deepening of market integration through the Internal Energy Market Directive
- a review of the renewable energy directive, e.g. in order to specify governance structures on the “at least 27 percent renewable energy target” in 2030,
- a review of the energy efficiency directive, or
- fostering of regional cooperation on the sub-European level, e.g. the Pentalateral Energy Forum (PLEF) or the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP)
Further integration of the Internal energy market will be – next to cooperation with neighbouring countries - one of our core areas of attention.