Energy Union to be key issue for Slovak EU Presidency

The EU's Energy Union will be one of the key issues for Slovakia and will receive more attention in the near future, as this issue has strong potential to become one of the main priorities for Slovakia's presidency of the European Council in the second half of 2016, reads the guidelines for Slovakia's Permanent Representation to the EU approved by the Government. As part of this issue Slovakia's Permanent Representation will promote the completion of the North-South gas link and its funding from European sources. Further priorities will include the strengthening of the EU's internal energy market and the removal of regulatory barriers. Energy policy should be set in a way that will lead to a reduction in energy prices. Likewise, each member country should retain the right to select its own energy mix, which for Slovakia would mean supporting conditions for developing nuclear energy. Another goal should involve limiting regulatory frameworks favouring certain energy sources, and promoting energy efficiency. The Slovak presidency will also deal with the issue of the EU's common market and the common digital market.