Enviro News Asia, Luxembourg — With less than nine months remaining before Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien, attended the Energy and Environment Councils held in Luxembourg earlier this week.
Prior to the Energy Council, Minister O’Brien co-chaired, alongside Spain’s Secretary of State for Energy, Joan Groizard, a meeting of the “Friends of Renewables” group, which consists of 15 EU Member States. The group engaged in discussions with the European Commission regarding the upcoming European Grids Package, designed to enhance grid resilience and improve electricity interconnection between Member States — a critical step toward expanding the renewable energy sector and ensuring affordable energy prices for consumers.
During the meetings, Ministers reached an agreement on the Council’s position concerning the REPowerEU proposal, which aims to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports. Ireland expressed full support for this initiative, emphasizing that Europe’s energy security depends on preventing Russia from weaponizing gas supplies.
Minister O’Brien also reaffirmed Ireland’s steadfast support for Ukraine and condemned Russia’s ongoing invasion.
At the Environment Council, Ministers adopted the EU’s negotiating position ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), set to take place in Belém, Brazil next month — a crucial step to maintain Europe’s leadership in global climate action. (*)
