Secure energy supply before expanding electricity grids – and preserve regional influence
The aim of the European grid package is to strengthen Europe's energy system – a welcome ambition. But the current proposal risks moving decisions further away from the citizens. It also overlooks that the biggest challenge is the energy shortage itself – not the need for longer grids. This is according to the political network Europaforum Norra Sverige (EFNS), of which Region Norrbotten is a member.
One of the most crucial issues for both climate and competitiveness is how Europe's future energy system will be built. The European Grid Package is an initiative from the European Commission to accelerate the modernization and expansion of Europe's electricity grid.
The aim is to:
- future-proof the grid for increased renewable energy
- improve cross-border coordination
- simplify permit processes
- increase resilience in times of crisis.
The debate on energy supply often highlights the need for increased transmission capacity by building larger and longer electricity networks. EFNS does not believe that long networks are wrong, but believes that it would not solve the fundamental challenge.
– There will not automatically be enough energy just because there are long-distance cables. It is the lack of energy itself that is the big problem, says Anders Öberg (S), chairman of the regional board in Norrbotten and rapporteur within EFNS.
The focus needs to be on increasing production, strengthening storage and developing the flexibility of the systems that already exist.
Regional competitiveness strengthens the EU
EFNS agrees that increased cooperation is important, but stresses that it must not mean that decisions are moved further away from the regions affected. This is about both democracy and efficiency in decisions.
– We believe in the proximity principle. The potential in local and regional solutions with proximity to production, storage and demand response is more cost-effective and should be prioritized before long-distance expansion, says Anders Öberg.
Northern Sweden is a clear example of how long-term investments in renewable energy can create both competitiveness and energy security. Low and stable electricity prices have been crucial for industrial development and the green transition, and they are also an asset for the entire EU. European competitiveness is built on regional competitiveness. Such conditions need to be protected rather than weakened through centralization and uniformity.
Overall direction but without detailed control
The EU has an important role in coordinating energy policy and setting common goals, but coordination must not devolve into micromanagement. More efficient processes must go hand in hand with preserving regional influence, says EFNS.
– We believe in continued national, regional and local influence over decisions about energy, says Johan Loock (M), regional politician in Jämtland Härjedalen and rapporteur within EFNS, and continues:
– Streamlining processes must not come at the expense of regions' and people's opportunities for influence and scrutiny. We want to see the proximity principle applied first and foremost, so that energy is produced, stored and used locally and regionally.
Read the full position here:
Europaforum Northern Sweden's views on the European network package
FACTS: Europaforum Northern Sweden
How do EU strategies, action programs, laws and budgets affect northern Sweden? Europaforum Norra Sverige is a political network between the four northernmost counties in Sweden, where EU issues are analyzed and discussed. The aim is to present northern Sweden's perspective and contribute to EU policy that benefits our part of the European Union.
The work in EFNS is based on common positions. The positions are always adopted after unanimous decisions by representatives of different counties, so-called rapporteurs. The EFNS network operates across party lines to safeguard the interests of northern Sweden.
