Parliament backs EU list of energy projects, ignoring Greens

(EurActiv, 12 Feb 2020) The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday (12 February) against a motion to reject a proposed list of priority energy projects, ignoring the demands of Greens and leftists who warned against funding new gas infrastructure that risks being stranded as Europe moves to a zero-carbon economy.

Lawmakers in Strasbourg were voting on a motion tabled by the Greens that would have rejected the so-called fourth EU list of Projects of Common Interests (PCI), presented in October last year by the previous European Commission led by Jean-Claude Juncker.

That motion was rejected on Wednesday by an overwhelming majority: 443 votes against, 169 in favour and 36 abstentions.

“In a transition period, we need energy from gas as a necessary bridge towards even cleaner, climate neutral energy sources,” said Cristian Bușoi, a Romanian MEP from the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) who chairs the Parliament’s industry committee.

The Commission’s proposed list contains 151 energy infrastructure projects, 70% of which are related to electricity and smart grids.

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EurActiv, 12 Feb 2020: Parliament backs EU list of energy projects, ignoring Greens