Caspian Report - Issue 06 - Winter 2014

one-quarter of the EU’s primary energy
supply, and so imported natural
gas represents one-sixth of EU energy
consumption, although of course the
proportion varies widely from country
to country. The EU’s gas consumption
as a proportion of total energy is
expected to rise to nearly one-third
by the end of the next decade, when
imports will rise to account for over
three-quarters of gas consumption,
equivalent to one-quarter of all EU
energy consumption. Thus imported
natural gas as a proportion of total
energy consumption in the EU will increase
by half over the next 15 years.
decade. The EU’s proposed 2030
package will be discussed at a European
summit of EU Heads of State in
March. 13 41
Europe’s gas demand will increase
during the next decade and a half
even faster than expected, if Energy
Commissioner Oettinger’s opposition
to a planned 40 per cent cut in
carbon dioxide emissions across the
EU by 2030 is endorsed. He believes
EUROPE’S GAS DEMAND WILL INCREASE DURING
THE NEXT DECADE AND A HALF EVEN FASTER THAN
EXPECTED, IF ENERGY COMMISSIONER OETTINGER’S
OPPOSITION TO A PLANNED 40 PER CENT CUT IN
CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS ACROSS THE EU BY 2030 IS
ENDORSED.
CASPIAN REPORT, WINTER 2014
that this is necessary to keep prices
competitive with rivals fuelled by inexpensive
American shale gas. However,
he faces stiff opposition from the
European Parliament as well as from
a number of Member States. Last year
he had advocated that there should
be no new taxes on energy within
the EU, and that current taxes should
not be raised until the end of the next
13
. See “EU sets out ‘walk now, sprint later’ 2030 clean energy vision”, EurActiv, 23 January 2014, ; and “Oettinger rallies opposition to 2030 CO2 target,” EurActiv,
29 January 2014, .