We must not lose our focus on delivering tangible solutions to our citizens, Danish Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, told CNA in a comprehensive interview, following the College of Commissioners’ visit to Cyprus that marked another milestone in the start of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The Commissioner noted that he is relying on the Cyprus Presidency to advance the Commission’s agenda, particularly as regards housing. “I believe that keeping the political momentum to solve the crisis will be crucial in the coming months. I count on the Presidency to move forward our agenda in view of the Housing Summit towards the summer,” he added.
Asked how realistic it is to deliver tangible relief to citizens while Europe is pushing major reforms such as the European Grids Package, the phaseout of Russian energy and support for Ukraine and Moldova, the Commissioner said that Europe is navigating in difficult circumstances and must remain united. He noted that ‘Europe is navigating in turbulent geopolitical waters, and we must stand firm and united,’ while stressing that ‘our continent is going through an affordability of living crisis.’
He said all major initiatives point in the same direction, that of ‘strengthening our energy independence.’ He added that ‘it is only by reducing imports of fossil fuels, building more home-grown renewables and doubling down on energy efficiency that we can lower our energy prices,’ and that ‘supporting Ukraine’s and Moldova’s energy security is also an investment in Europe’s own security.’
Asked how exposed the EU is today in light of recent geopolitical and supply-chain shocks, Jørgensen said that ‘energy is not immune to new emerging risks,’ pointing to ‘a growing number of physical sabotage events to the energy system, as well as cyber threats to our critical infrastructure,’ as well as climate-related and geopolitical risks.
Commissioner Jørgensen added that the war in Ukraine showed that ‘overreliance on a single energy supplier is something we must absolutely avoid.’ Although Europe’s system has proved resilient, he said that ‘new challenges require a new approach, and announced that ‘later this year I will come forward with a reform of the EU energy security framework.’
He also noted that under the Grids Package ‘we integrate security considerations into cross-border project planning from the start,’ and that ‘we also open up the possibility of using the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the EU’s financing instrument for cross-border energy infrastructure, for security.’
Asked about progress on the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), Jørgensen said that ‘Cyprus is the last EU Member State not connected to the European electricity grid. This limits its integration into the internal energy market and hampers the integration of renewables.’
Overall, ‘progress on the GSI project has been hampered by a complex geopolitical context, with implications for timelines and costs. This interconnection is very strategic and needs the full cooperation and coordination between the Member States involved to address the existing challenges,’ he added.
‘The Commission has been supporting this project for years, also financially through the CEF, and has now included it among the 8 Energy Highways that it will prioritise for its timely implementation. I’ve been personally very engaged and continue to be in touch with my counterparts in Cyprus and Greece,” the Commissioner noted.
He assured that “the Commission will continue to give strong political and technical support to it, in close cooperation with Greece and Cyprus, including through dedicated events and high-level discussions, and with additional engagement to addressing geopolitical aspects.’
Asked whether the European Grids Package can be treated as a strategic European priority rather than a purely national one, the Commissioner said Europe needs stronger and more interconnected infrastructure. ‘The European Grids Package is a common European project for the common good,’ aimed at ‘more security and resilience, lower prices and cleaner energy. Jørgensen recalled that the Commission has proposed to increase the CEF budget ‘from around 6 to almost 30 billion euros.’
Asked how grids can be upgraded without burdening consumers, Jørgensen said that without upgrades ‘by 2040, up to 310 TWh of renewable energy could go to waste – this represents nearly half of electricity consumption in 2023.’ He stressed that the plan is not only to build more but also to use networks better, and that the Grids Package promotes fairer cost sharing and local benefits from renewables.
On whether the European Affordable Housing Plan can deliver tangible results, Jørgensensaid that housing is wrongly treated as a commodity, while in reality ‘a house is more than a piece of gold: it is warmth, safety, belonging,’ and that Europe must restore the logic that ‘housing is a fundamental right.’ He acknowledged that ‘the housing crisis is not something that Brussels can solve alone,’ and said tackling it requires action at all levels.
He also announced a new EU framework on short-term rentals, saying: ‘We will come up with a new framework for local authorities to regulate short-term rentals,’ adding that ‘we cannot accept that local people can’t stay in the place where they were born or where they want to build a life.’ He also said the Commission will explore ways ‘to reduce or eliminate the need for a security deposit for students who want to rent an apartment.’
Asked what would count as tangible success for the Cyprus Presidency, Jørgensen said he hopes to advance negotiations on the Grids Package and stressed again that ‘I count on the Presidency to move forward our agenda.’ On housing, he said momentum must be maintained and that the Informal Housing Council will be crucial, stressing: ‘This is a matter of the utmost importance for our citizens, and we must deliver tangible solutions as soon as possible.’
Referring to the geopolitical climate, the Commissioner said it reinforces the urgency of his agenda, stressing that ‘strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy, reducing dependencies and shielding citizens from external shocks’ are the objectives guiding energy and housing policy. He concluded that ‘with focus, unity and determination, we can and will deliver concrete results.’