Date: 2019-07-03Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2019/1133 of 25 June 2019 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) with regard to the extension of the Terms of Reference for the IPEEC for the period from 24 May until 31 December 2019
Executive Summary:
This Council Decision (EU) 2019/1133 establishes the European Union's position regarding the extension of the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) Terms of Reference from May 24 to December 31, 2019. It approves the extension and supports the transfer of IPEEC activities to a new energy efficiency hub. The decision was made in anticipation of combining IPEEC and IEA energy efficiency activities.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Extension of IPEEC Terms of Reference:**
* The EU approves the extension of the IPEEC Terms of Reference until December 31, 2019.
* **IPEEC Secretariat Hosting:**
* The EU agrees with the IEA Governing Board decision for the IEA to continue hosting the IPEEC Secretariat until December 31, 2019.
* **Transfer to New Energy Efficiency Hub:**
* The EU endorses the administrative transfer of IPEEC to a new energy efficiency hub, including the transfer of Task Groups, funds, and IPEEC Secretariat staff.
Impact Analysis:
* **European Union:**
* Impact: The EU is bound by the extension of the IPEEC Terms of Reference.
* Action Required: Implement the decision to approve the extension and support the transfer of IPEEC activities.
* **International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC):**
* Impact: IPEEC's activities will continue without interruption until December 31, 2019, and will then be transferred to a new energy efficiency hub.
* Action Required: Continue implementing its work program and prepare for the transfer of activities, funds, and staff to the new energy efficiency hub.
* **International Energy Agency (IEA):**
* Impact: The IEA will continue hosting the IPEEC Secretariat until December 31, 2019.
* Action Required: Continue hosting the IPEEC Secretariat and facilitate the transfer of IPEEC's energy efficiency activities into the new energy efficiency hub.
Key Entities Referenced
Luxembourg: The city in Luxembourg where the Council Decision was adopted.
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe. The decision concerns the position to be taken on its behalf.
International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC): An international forum focusing on energy efficiency cooperation among member countries. The decision concerns the extension of its Terms of Reference.
European Commission: An institution of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU budget.
International Energy Agency (IEA): An autonomous intergovernmental organisation that provides policy recommendations, analysis and data on the entire global energy sector.
G20: An intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries plus the European Union. It addresses global economic and financial issues.
Rome: The capital city of Italy, where the Terms of Reference for the IPEEC were signed.
Council of the European Union: An institution of the European Union where government ministers from each EU country meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws, and coordinate policies.
3.7.2019 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 179/23
DECISIONS
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2019/1133
of 25 June 2019
on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the International Partnership for
Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) with regard to the extension of the Terms of Reference for
the IPEEC for the period from 24 May until 31 December 2019
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 194(2), in conjunction
with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The Terms of Reference for the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) (‘the
Agreement’) were signed in Rome by 12 States including four Member States of the European Community on
24 May 2009 and were concluded by the European Community by Council Decision 2009/954/EC (1).
(2) Pursuant to point 7.1 of the Agreement, the Members of the IPEEC may decide to extend the duration of the
Agreement. The Policy Committee, being IPEEC's plenary body composed of high-level representatives of all its
Members, and being entrusted to govern the overall framework and policies of the IPEEC, is the appropriate body
within which the IPEEC Members can decide on an extension of the duration of the Agreement.
(3) The IPEEC Members, except for the Union, approved the extension of the Terms of Reference for the IPEEC for
the period from 24 May until 31 December 2019 at the Policy Committee meeting on 21 February 2019.
(4) It is appropriate to establish the position on the extension of the Terms of Reference for the IPEEC to be taken
on the Union's behalf, as the extension of the terms of reference would be binding on the Union.
(5) The IPEEC Members are considering the possibility of combining the current activities of IPEEC and the energy
efficiency activities of the International Energy Agency (IEA) into an energy efficiency hub in order to achieve
synergies in that area. The short-term extension of the Terms of Reference for the IPEEC aims to allow for the
necessary time, as an interim measure, to set up the energy efficiency hub while ensuring that IPEEC's activities
continue and are transferred to the new energy efficiency hub without interruption.
(6) Operationally, an extension until 31 December 2019 takes into account the continued implementation of IPEEC's
work programme and of core services to the IPEEC Members. This includes energy efficiency work under the
G20, which this year will include events scheduled after the end of IPEEC's current mandate on 24 May 2019.
The availability of funds to cover activities during the extension period is also considered, as the IPEEC Secretariat
is currently receiving contributions for the full 2019 calendar year and activities, remaining staff and possible
resources could be transferred to the new energy efficiency hub.
(7) A short-term extension of the Terms of Reference for the IPEEC is therefore important to avoid an abrupt
termination of IPEEC's activities on 24 May 2019. In accordance with point 3.4 of the Terms of Reference for the
IPEEC, the final decision on the extension is to be adopted by consensus of the IPEEC Members, and following
the Policy Committee meeting of 21 February 2019, a Council decision on the Union's position is necessary,
(1) Council Decision 2009/954/EC of 30 November 2009 on the signing and conclusion of the ‘Terms of Reference for the International
Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation’ (IPEEC) and the ‘Memorandum concerning the hosting by the International Energy
Agency of the Secretariat to the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation’ by the European Community (OJ L 330,
16.12.2009, p. 37).L 179/24 EN Official Journal of the European Union 3.7.2019
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation
(IPEEC) with regard to the extension of the Terms of Reference for the IPEEC for the period from 24 May until
31 December 2019 shall be the following:
(a) to approve the extension of the Terms of Reference of the IPEEC for the period from 24 May until 31 December
2019;
(b) to agree with the International Energy Agency (IEA) Governing Board decision to continue hosting the IPEEC
Secretariat at the IEA until 31 December 2019 on the basis of the Memorandum concerning the Hosting by the IEA
of the Secretariat to the IPEEC;
(c) to endorse the administrative transfer of the IPEEC to a new energy efficiency hub, in particular in relation to the
transfer of Task Groups, funds and the IPEEC Secretariat staff.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Luxembourg, 25 June 2019.
For the Council
The President
A. ANTON