Powering the Future

The Electricity Market Design reform is one of the last “big files” in the current European Legislature.
Its main objective is to better adjust this market to the goals of the European Green Deal. However, for the EPP, it is equally important to ensure that this reform benefits consumers, both households and businesses, including our European industry, promotes investment and paves the way for a more solid Internal Electricity Market.
At a critical moment for the outcome of this file, with discussions underway at the Council, the EPP “Powering the Future” conference, in Lisbon, is a chance for us to inform (but mostly listen to) the main stakeholders in this market.

Energy security and supply is a challenge that the EU faces. The price of energy has a huge impact on our competitiveness and quality of life. The Union is working on reforming the European electricity market to ensure price predictability and stability.
The production of energy from renewable sources is crucial if we want to achieve our climate goals. Thus, the Energy Union enables us to have affordable energy, to reduce our energy dependence and to combat climate change. Electricity interconnections are fundamental to the Energy Union and crucial for Portugal to take full advantage of its renewable energy potential. In the European Parliament, we have insisted on the concretization of these interconnections and cross-border projects. Unfortunately, this attitude is rejected by the national egoisms of several member states. President Macron's attitude, which makes electricity interconnections in the Pyrenees impossible, is an example that harms the Energy Union and particularly Portugal. The member states have millions at their disposal, which should be used for joint projects that strengthen our strategic autonomy.

Recent events in Ukraine have highlighted the need for Europe to reassess its energy dependencies and strengthen its infrastructure against different vulnerabilities. Geopolitical changes forced the European bloc to diversify its energy sources. As Europe seeks a greener and more sustainable energy path, it must simultaneously confront the complexities caused by regional conflicts and political tensions. Solving these problems will require a combination of strategic partnerships, technological integration, and political ingenuity, which will dictate the trajectory of the continent's energy and geopolitical future in the coming decades. The objective is clear: to carve out a resilient, efficient, and environmentally friendly electricity market that meets the aspirations of its citizens and upholds Europe's commitment to climate objectives.