Commission Work Programme 2012 unveiled

Brussels, 15 November 2011 – The European Commission has released its Work Programme for 2012, setting out its priorities for the coming year. The plan focuses mainly on the need to stimulate economic growth and create jobs, but also emphasises the need to pave the way for a sustainable future.

The Work Programme states that “Sustainability is at the core of the Commission's vision for energy policy”. Reforming the EU’s energy system will help stimulate some of Europe’s struggling economies. The Commission will provide a strategy for accelerating the development of renewable energy in the EU internal market and in its Southern Mediterranean neighbours.

The Commission will also continue towards its goal of a genuine and comprehensive curb on greenhouse gas emissions. Plans will be put forward to control emissions from shipping, as well as a review on CO2 targets for cars and vans. It will also focus on breaking transport's dependence on oil by continuing to grow EU infrastructures for alternative fuels.

Resource efficiency also takes an important place, with the water blueprint aimed at protecting Europe’s water supply due for release in 2012. The Commission will also begin to develop positions on energy technologies and efficiency.

To download the Work Programme, click here.

Click here for links to individual policy roadmaps.