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The issue The COP15 conference was widely seen as a setback for the EU. The agreement that was reached fell short of the global deal to replace the Kyoto protocol that the EU had sought. The summit also revealed the limits of EU influence. The EU, which had been instrumental in getting the Kyoto protocol agreed, was unable to shape a deal in Copenhagen, outmanoeuvred by the US and China.

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European leaders agreed in March 2007 that the European Union should aim to get 20% of its energy from renewable sources and 10% of transport fuel from biofuels by 2020. By the time the European Commission presented its renewable energy proposal in January 2008, the goal had shifted to an objective of 10% of transport fuels from renewable sources, rather than biofuels. The shift was significant, and in the final legislation, agreed in December 2008, the European Parliament and national governments added further green safeguards and incentives to promote other forms of clean transport, such as electric vehicles.

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This, the latest in the Comment:Visions series of debates, is dedicated to a topic that many Europeans were made all too physically aware of this January: energy (in)security. The dispute between Russia and Ukraine, which left parts of Europe without gas in the middle of a harsh winter, was a reminder of just how dependent Europe is on the outside world for its energy.

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A political consensus has emerged in favour of implementing CCS, but many questions remain about how to ensure that it delivers the expected benefits. Will the recently approved legislation provide sufficient incentives for businesses to invest in CCS? What other incentives exist? Is the market ready for CCS?

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With expert panellists including Michel Barnier - France’s minister of agriculture and fisheries and chaired by Dana Spinant, Editor-in-chief, European Voice, the third Comment: Visions Debate of 2008 took place in Brussels on November 13th 2008.

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With expert panellists including Benita Ferrero-Waldner and chaired by Tim King of European Voice, the second Comment: Visions Debate of 2008 took place in Brussels on June 30th 2008.

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With expert panellists including Jos Delbeke and chaired by Jennifer Rankin of European Voice, the first Comment: Visions Debate of 2008 took place in Brussels on February 25th 2008.

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