Exclusive: The EU Is Seeking Powers To Accelerate Energy Networks Pipes

The European Union seeks new powers to speed up by large energy projects to reduce dependence on imported oil and gas, sustainable, green supplies, according to the bill seen by Reuters.

As part of preparations for the first EU budget in energy expenditure, the project shows the distribution of priorities 9100000000 euros (12.4 billion) allocated for 2014-2020 to improve the power and gas pipelines and networks.

Although less than one percent of the costs of the EU budget could help to attract more funds to the private sector and national governments, and explains the growing importance of EU energy policy.

The proposals include the creation of a "European Coordinator" to help accelerate major projects at European level if they meet "delays or difficulties in their implementation."

In addition, the licensing process of the projects - which at that time can take a decade - should not take more than three years.

If projects are large enough, the objections of the government more prey to certain conditions.

"The least harmful to the path that the project was to be granted a positive decision," according to a plan released by the Commission.

A spokesman for the Commission declined to comment on the plans.

The most strategic projects will be those that contribute to meeting energy policy of the European Commission to ensure a safe and durable.

Priority projects are in the area known as the Southern Gas Corridor to help reduce dependence on Russian gas and European Union, as well as an integrated network of offshore in the North Sea and Baltic Sea region.

Known European settlement to reduce its vulnerability to supply disruptions is the Nabucco pipeline to bring gas from Russia to the Caspian Sea.

EU officials have said, Europe is better prepared for any increase in tension between the main gas producers in Russia and transit country Ukraine. In early 2009, has blocked a dispute over the price of supplies to some EU countries.

Since 2009, more liquefied natural gas is potentially available for shipping to the EU, published by the U.S. development shale gas. In addition, a new compressor Baumgarten in Austria center, built with the help of money from the gas supply means the EU can be distributed more widely.

Green and RELIABLE

Sustainable Energy in the EU, as important as security, which gives the Commission a greater role in trying to provide intelligent, long-term investment rather than short-term solutions.

This is a legally binding 2020 targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent compared to 1990 and to increase its renewable energy mix to 20 percent.

These objectives and the most ambitious plans to reduce carbon emissions in a road map of 2050 low carbon require major changes in Europe's energy infrastructure.

In total more than 1 billion euros of investment are needed for the electricity and gas in the decade between 2010 and 2020, said the European Commission.

In June, said the EU budget for 2014-2020 should create a fund of 40 billion euros in energy, transport and other infrastructure, including 9.1 billion will be devoted to energy - including transmission of energy - gas and electricity coverage.

The final bill should be announced in the coming weeks, after which they may be at least a year to complete the EU governments and parliamentarians.

It follows last month also proposed focuses on helping to ensure security of supply by increasing the opportunities for participation of the European Commission in negotiating power between the members of the EU and governments outside the bloc of 27 nations .

Director of a competitor to the Nabucco project Interconnector Turkey-Greece-Italy (ITGI) has welcomed the simplicity of this design, but said that European legislation does not give unfair advantage to any of the projects.

"They should not distort competition. These projects should be given the opportunity to compete on its merits," Elio Ruggeri, ITGI gas pipeline project leader told Reuters.