Europe minister: Energy policy a top priority for EU

“[The aim of the Polish presidency] is to show the benefits of Europe, that people can see in a credible way how [it] works and how we can deliver on growth and economic opportunities for everyone,” Dowgielewicz told europarltv.eu, the European Parliament’s devoted news channel.

Speaking about energy policy, Dowgielewicz stated that “it’s essential to recognise that energy policy must become one of the big European construction sites in the coming years.”

“We must have a functioning energy market in place because that is the best guarantee of energy security. We need energy links between Member States, especially on the north-south axis,” Dowgielewicz added.

The comment comes off the back of the Hungarian rotating presidency’s aims to further the construction of a gas pipe-line which will lead from the Polish Baltic port of Swinoujscie to a gas terminal on the Croatian island of Krk.

So far, a number of so-called inter-connectors have been built – or are either construction – at a number of internal border crossings in the EU.

Turning to CO2 emissions and the climate, Dowgielewicz said that “it’s essential that we recognise that the world has changed,” continuing to say that “Europe’s largest economy [Germany] has just decided to get rid of nuclear energy, which is 23 percent of their energy mix.”

“How do you respond to that in the real world?” Poland’s Europe minister asked.

“It’s an interesting question, but you can’t respond to it by raising ambitions with higher reduction targets,” Dowgielewicz offers as a response, adding “especially if all the outside powers and emerging economies aren’t doing the same.”

Dowgielewicz concludes the interview by saying that a compromise needs to be found, and that the Polish EU Council presidency has a good chance of brokering it. (jb)