English Version :
Malta welcomed the outcome of the Energy Council where EU energy ministers voted on proposals to revise the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive.
Malta, represented by Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli, welcomed the position in favour of these revisions and emphasised on the need to strike a balance to ensure the island’s competitiveness.
The Directives form part of the Fit-For-55 package which addresses the climate change phenomenon.
The Council supported the elements directly related to renewable energy and energy efficiency, crucial for EU Member States to reduce emissions.
“With increased ambition by the European Union, Malta included, we need to decrease countries’ dependency on fossil fuels, an imported and polluting source of energy. Investing in renewable energy will not only strengthen the country’s independence but also be a step closer to a decarbonised economy”, said Minister Miriam Dalli.
The minister also explained that whilst our country supports the EU ambition and vision in this sector, Malta worked to ensure that sensitive sectors for the Maltese economy, such as the maritime and aviation sectors, would not be affected negatively during this recovery period.
“The EU is moving ahead and Malta needs to be ambitious, where ultimately it is the consumers who benefit and crucial sectors are protected. In this recovery period it is imperative to ensure realistic solutions”, said Minister Miriam Dalli.
She also explained that Malta can serve as a testbed for investments in large-scale offshore renewable energy and urged the European Commission to help in financing such projects, where these opportunities are based on much more expensive technology as the country looks at floating offshore renewable technology.
“The Innovation Fund is a tool that needs to focus more on financing innovative renewable technology that can help in decarbonising the energy sector even off-shore”, emphasised Minister Dalli.
“We want to see the Fit-for-55 Package implemented successfully, with a proper transition that also takes into account the social aspect, particularly when it comes to vulnerable consumers”, said Minister Dalli.
Maltese Version :
Malta tilqa’ l-proposti tal-Kunsill għall–Enerġija: Pass ‘il quddiem favur l-enerġija rinnovabbli, l–effiċjenza fl-użu
Malta laqgħet ir-riżultat tal-laqgħa tal-Ministri Ewropej għall-Enerġija li vvutaw fuq il proposta għal Reviżjoni tad-Direttivi dwar l-Enerġija Rinnovabbli u dik dwar l-Effiċjenza fl-Enerġija.
Malta, irrappreżentata mill-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli, laqgħet il-pożizzjoni favur dawn ir-reviżjonijiet, filwaqt li saħqet dwar il-ħtieġa li jkun hemm bilanċ biex nassiguraw il-kompetittività ta’ pajjiżna.
Dawn id-direttivi jiffurmaw parti mill-pakkett Fit for 55, il-pakkett li jindirizza t-tibdil fil-klima.
Il-Kunsill appoġġja dawn l-elementi li għandhom x’jaqsmu direttament mal-enerġija rinnovabbli u l-effiċjenza fl-enerġija, kruċjali biex l-Istati Membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea jnaqqsu l-emissjonijiet.
“Bl-ambizzjoni akbar li għandha l-Unjoni Ewropea, u Malta, rridu nnaqqsu d-dipendenza tal-pajjiżi fuq il-fossil fuels, sors ta’ enerġija li huwa impurtat u jniġġes. Li ninvestu fl-enerġija rinnovabbli mhux biss isaħħaħ l- indipendenza tal-pajjiż imma nkunu qed nimxu aktar eqreb lejn ekonomija li ma tniġġisx”, qalet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
Il-ministru spjegat ukoll li filwaqt li pajjiżna jappoġġja l-ambizzjoni u l-viżjoni tal-Unjoni Ewropea f’dan il- qasam, Malta ħadet ħsieb li setturi sensittivi u kruċjali għall-ekonomija ta’ Malta f’dan iż-żmien ta’ rkupru, bħal dak marittimu u tal-avjazzjoni, ma jintlaqtux ħażin.
“L-Unjoni Ewropea qed timxi ‘l quddiem u Malta wkoll trid tkun ambizzjuża, fejn il-konsumatur jiggwadanja u setturi sensittivi jkunu protetti. F’dan iż-żmien ta’ rkupru ekonomiku, irridu nassiguraw soluzzjonijiet realistiċi”, saħqet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
Miriam Dalli spjegat ukoll li Malta tista’ sservi bħala testbed għal investimenti f’enerġija rinnovabbli offshore fuq skala kbira. Għal dan il-għan, il-Ministru Dalli ħeġġet lill-Kummissjoni Ewropea biex tgħin tiffinanzja proġetti bħal dawn, fejn l-opportunitajiet li jeżistu huma bbażati fuq teknoloġija li tiswa ferm aktar minħabba li l-pajjiż qed iħares lejn floating offshore renewable technology.
“Il-Fond għall-Innovazzjoni huwa għodda li għandu jiffoka aktar fuq l-iffinanzjar ta’ teknoloġija rinnovabbli innovattiva li fl-aħħar mill-aħħar tista’ tgħin id-dekarbonizzazzjoni tas-settur tal-enerġija tagħna billi tappoġġja wkoll proġetti li jġeddu lil hinn mix-xtut”, saħqet il-Ministru Dalli.
“Biex il-Pakkett Fit for 55 jkun implimentat b’suċċess, l-Unjoni Ewropea trid tiżgura tranżizzjoni xierqa li tqis ukoll l-aspett soċjali, partikolarment fejn jidħlu konsumaturi vulnerabbli”, qalet il-Ministru Dalli.