#Energy Commission winter energy package: Enhanced energy supply security through cooperation, solidarity and combating energy waste

On 16 February, Maros Sefcovic (PES), European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union presented the Commission’s 'Energy Union winter package' to strengthen and modernise the EU energy framework and make it more resilient against interruptions from or to external gas suppliers.

PES President Sergei Stanishev welcomed the Energy Union winter package: "Commission Vice-President Sefcovic’s proposals are an important step in securing the European Union’s energy supply through more and better cooperation and solidarity between the EU’s Member States in situations of external gas supply disruptions and through more transparency in international gas agreements. This package delivers on one of the key priorities of the Energy Union: no one in Europe, especially not the most vulnerable ones in our societies, shall be cut off energy in times of supply crises.

He added: "I highly welcome that Commission Vice-President Sefcovic for the first time kicked-off strategic thinking in EU policy-making about the heating and cooling sector in buildings and industry. Heating and cooling accounts for about half of the EU’s energy consumption, two thirds of it powered by climate-harming fossil fuels. That is why taking energy efficiency measures in this sector is so crucial. Combating energy waste in heating and cooling will not only add greatly to Europe’s efforts to protect the climate, but it will also create local jobs, reduce citizens’ and industry’s energy bills and contribute to our fight against energy poverty and to improve the EU industry’s productivity."

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