17/05/2011
EURELECTRIC Position on the Post-2013 EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework “Europe must live up to its commitments”
EU Budget
The European Union is currently negotiating its
next EU long-term budget - known as the EU Multi-Annual Financial
Framework (MFF) - for the period 2014-2020. This MFF will have a
key role to play in helping the EU achieve its high ambitions, as
set out in the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and
inclusive growth. Europe must live up to its commitments: it is
high time to launch a deep and comprehensive discussion on how to
match political objectives with financing needs.
The priorities set in the Europe 2020 strategy emphasise electricity's key role in driving the transition towards a low-carbon economy and acting as a motor for sustainable growth. Our sector is determined to play its role. The EU can help by providing the right policy framework.
Among other things, this means that the EU budget should reflect the EU's priorities and adequately complement private sector spending on achieving the EU energy-climate targets. We are closely following the negotiations on the MFF dossier and on the related programmes which are relevant to our sectors. These include Horizon 2020 - the upcoming EU R&D framework - and the Connecting Europe Facility, which includes the new regulation for energy infrastructures.
