How has Germany influenced EU renewable energy policy development in the past? How will it do in the future?

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1 How has Germany influenced EU renewable energy policy development in the past? How will it do in the future? Dr. Severin Fischer Mid-term Workshop on REMIX, Brussels,

2 Structure 1. Four different phases of German contribution to RES policy in the EU 2. Organization of ministerial responsibilities in Germany decisive for policy development 3. RES policy as a two-level game on EU and national scene 2 REMIX-Workshop,

3 Phase 1: Main aim: Establishing EU Renewables Policy Ministry for the Environment (BMU) gained competence for Renewable Energies in Germany Supportive policy for Directive on RES Electricity and on RES Transport ECJ judgement on «PreussenElektra» (C 379/98) from 2001 supported German Government position on support schemes not influenced by internal energy market legislation Presenting «EEG» as role-model on EU level «Ökologische Industriepolitik» as main aim 3 REMIX-Workshop,

4 Establishing European model defending national achievements German EU Presidency puts focus on Climate and RES «Legally binding» targets as «policy novelty» in last minute of EuCo 2007 BMU remains main actor for drafting German position; competition with BMWi, but debate concentrates on ETS etc. Defending against harmonization attempts by Commission Alliance with RES-sceptical Member States: limited EU influence RES Transport target: Using EU obligation for defence against growing domestic criticism 4 REMIX-Workshop, Phase 2:

5 Phase 3: Germany absent from EU debate concentration on «Energiewende» New government formation: CDU environment (BMU), FDP economy (BMWi) Main aim: organization of «energy concept» and from 2011 onwards organization of «Energiewende» Only few initiatives for safeguarding EU development on RES in times of crisis 5 REMIX-Workshop,

6 Phase 4: 2013-today Revitalized German EU RES Policy interaction with EC Competence on EU RES policy moved from BMU to BMWi Two-level-game: Using DG Competition pressure to reform EEG domestically Re-engaging on EU level to set up new framework for RES policies beyond 2020 Limiting Commission influence on national RES support schemes by using legal means (eg. ECJ case) Less support by other Member States at EU level Integration of debate on Electricity Market Design and RES support RES policy still strongly focussed on electricity developments 6 REMIX-Workshop,

7 Ministerial responsibilities important RES policy moves from BMWi to BMU ( ) Low salience and relative big autonomy in the beginning ( ) High salience, but interest in agenda setting ( ) Severe disputes about policy design between BMWi and BMU ( ) RES policy moves from BMU to BMWi (2013 onwards) Great autonomy in designing EU RES policy 7 REMIX-Workshop,

8 Viewing RES Policy as a two-level game In general: Interest of German governments to transfer domestically agreed policies to the EU or to design the EU governance to be compatible & supportive of national policies 2001: Stopping certificate system from being implemented on EU level 2008: Legally binding targets without measures that would require change of national legislation Commission started to choose a new venue in 2013/14 by using state aid guidelines and starting legal action against Germany Perspective on relation electricity market/res in Germany has also changed fundamentally: Market important for RES development 8 REMIX-Workshop,

9 How will Germany influence future EU policy developments? Germany is in a constant struggle to keep domestic policy community happy and propose realistic ideas on EU level Task 1: Promoting cross-border tenders and opening of support schemes Task 2: Designing a smart system of compliance and flexibility in the Governance regulation Task 3: Creating incentives for other MS to develop ambitious RES plans and policies 9 REMIX-Workshop,

10 Contact 10 REMIX-Workshop,