COUNCIL DECISION
of 12 December 2011
on the position to be taken by the European Union in the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Annex IV (Energy) to the EEA Agreement
(2011/886/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 114(1), 192(1) and 218 (9) thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94 of 28 November 1994 concerning arrangements for implementing the Agreement on the European Economic Area (1), and in particular Article 1(3) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
Annex IV to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (2), (hereinafter ‘the EEA Agreement’) contains specific provisions and arrangements concerning energy.
(2)
Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC (3) is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(3)
Directive 2009/28/EC repeals Directive 2001/77/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market (4), which is incorporated into the EEA Agreement and is therefore to be repealed under the EEA Agreement.
(4)
Norway’s fulfilment of the target for share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in 2020 must be seen in the context of the initial high share of renewable energy compared to the EU Member States, and the uncertainty associated with supply and demand embedded in the combination of a hydro-based energy production system and a cold climate,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken by the Union in the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Annex IV (Energy) to the EEA Agreement shall be based on the draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee attached to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 12 December 2011.