European Neighbourhood Policy - South - energy and environment statistics

Data extracted in March 2022.

Planned article update: June 2024.

Highlights

The highest primary energy production among the European Neighbourhood Policy-South countries was in Algeria with 164.0 million tonnes of oil equivalent in 2021.

Egypt was a net exporter of energy in 2011, with 16.3 million tonnes of oil equivalent. In 2021, Egypt became a net importer with 1.1 million tonnes of oil equivalent.

Among the European Neighbourhood Policy South countries, Israel was the largest generator of municipal waste relative to population size at around 655 kg per inhabitant in 2020. In the EU, the quantity was lower at 521 kg per inhabitant.

Primary production of energy, by product, 2021
(% of total)
Source: Eurostat (nrg_bal_s) and (enps_nrg_bal_c)

This article is part of an online publication and provides information on a range of statistics related to energy and the environment for 8 of the 10 countries that form the European Neighbourhood Policy-South (ENP-South) region — Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine ^[1] and Tunisia; no recent data are available for Libya or Syria. The article presents, among others, information on the structure of energy production and consumption and a range of environmental areas such as climate change or the provision of water supplies to the population. This information is presented through a broad range of indicators including: primary energy production, gross inland energy consumption, the level of greenhouse gas emissions and municipal waste generated.

Several issues have kept energy high up on the political agenda for a number of years, including: the volatility of energy prices, interruptions to energy supplies and increased attention to anthropogenic (human-induced) effects of energy use on climate change, in particular, increased levels of greenhouse gas emissions (see below for more information).

The ENP-South countries experience many of the environmental issues faced by the wider world, with issues such as the quality and scarcity of water, soil erosion or desertification particularly important. Water is essential for life and an indispensable resource for the economy (especially within the agricultural sector) and it is becoming an increasingly scarce resource in many of the ENP-South countries.

Full article

Primary energy production

Energy commodities extracted or captured directly from natural resources are called primary energy sources, while energy commodities which are transformed from primary energy sources are called derived products. Primary energy sources cover the extraction of coal and other solid fuels; exploitation of oil and natural gas fields; production by nuclear and hydroelectric power plants; and renewables. The primary production of crude oil is defined as the quantity of fuel extracted or produced within national boundaries, including offshore production. Primary production of natural gas is defined as the quantity of dry gas, measured after purification and extraction of natural gas liquids and sulphur. Energy transformed from one form to another, such as electricity or heat generation in thermal power plants, is not considered as primary production of energy. Energy is often measured in tonnes of oil equivalent (toe). This is a normalised unit, equivalent to the approximate amount of energy that can be extracted from one tonne of crude oil, assigned a net calorific value of 41 868 kilojoules/kg, which allows the potential energy from different quantities of various energy sources to be compared.

Natural resource endowments of fossil fuels largely determine the structure of primary energy production. There are two main primary energy producers in the ENP-South countries: Algeria produced 164.0 million toe in 2021 and 144.1 million toe in 2020, while in Egypt the production was 91.9 million toe in 2021 and 91.4 million toe in 2020. The third highest level of primary production was in Israel with 17.1 million toe in 2021 and 13.8 million toe in 2020 (see Table 1). Tunisia followed with a production of 5.0 million toe in 2020 and Morocco with 2.4 million toe in 2020 (more recent data not available). The other countries for which data are available recorded productions of less than 1.0 million toe: Jordan with 0.6 million toe (2018 data), Palestine with 0.3 million toe (2020 data) and Lebanon with 0.03 million toe (2021 data).

Compared with 2011, the highest increase was recorded in Israel where the production was multiplied by more than four in 2021 (+325.3 %), followed by Jordan where the production more than doubled (+166.3 % - in 2018) then Morocco (+19.1 % - in 2020), Egypt (6.0 % - in 2021) and Algeria (4.4 % - in 2021). Lebanon recorded the highest decrease, (-70.7 % - in 2021), followed by Tunisia (-34.8 % - in 2020) and Palestine (-2.9 % - in 2020).

The EU primary energy production was 597.6 million toe in 2021 and 573.0 million toe in 2020. Compared with 2011, the primary energy production decreased by 12.4 % in 2021.

Table showing the primary energy production for the EU, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia for the years 2011, 2020 and 2021.

Table 1: Primary energy production, 2011, 2020 and 2021
Source: Eurostat (nrg_bal_s), (enps_nrg_bal_c) and Eurostat data collection

When it comes to the structure of primary energy production in 2021, in Algeria the main products were natural gas (60.5 %) and petroleum products (39.4 %). Renewables accounted for only a small fraction of the production (less than 0.1 %). Israel had one major product, natural gas, which accounted for 91.9 % of its total production. The production from renewable sources accounted for 6.2 %; from petroleum products and other sources 1.0 % and 0.7 % respectively; and solid fuels 0.2 %. Tunisia's production was more evenly distributed; 38.7 % from natural gas, 35.0 % from petroleum products and 24.8 % from renewables. Other sources accounted for only 1.5 % of its total production (2020 data). Morocco's production was mainly from renewable sources (80.6 %). Production from other sources came second, with 16.2 %. Natural gas accounted only for 3.0 % and petroleum products for 0.2 % of its total production (2020 data). No data by product are available for Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine.

EU's share of total production in 2021 was dominated by renewables and other sources (40.8 % and 33.8 %, respectively). Solid fossils came third with 15.7 % of total production, while natural gas and petroleum products had much smaller shares (6.4 % and 3.4 %, respectively).

The level of primary energy production may fluctuate considerably from one year to the next as a result of changes in energy demand (reflecting economic fortunes and the number of heating/cooling days), the development of energy prices (which are affected by the level of market supply and demand) and the weather (particularly for hydro power). Changes in the level of primary energy production may also reflect new energy resources coming on-stream or existing energy resources becoming depleted.

Relative to the population size (see Figure 1), Algeria had the highest primary energy production per inhabitant in 2021, with 3.68 toe per inhabitant, down by 0.64 toe per inhabitant from 2011. Israel had the second highest energy production per inhabitant with 1.85 toe. Its production more than trebled from 2011 when it recorded a level of 0.52 toe per inhabitant. The lowest point was in 2012 (0.28 toe per inhabitant) while the highest point was in 2021. Egypt came third, with 0.91 toe per inhabitant in 2021, down by 0.18 toe from 2011, which was the highest point. Tunisia's production decreased year by year from 2011 to 2015 (from 0.72 to 0.47 toe per inhabitant). In 2016 and 2017 it increased slightly, while in 2020 it reached 0.43 toe per inhabitant, 0.29 toe per inhabitant lower (-40 %) than in 2011. Palestine, Morocco, Jordan and Lebanon recorded very low productions per inhabitant over the period, ranging between 0.03 and 0.07 toe per inhabitant for the years for which data is available.

EU's production was 1.55 toe per inhabitant in 2011, close to the peak over this period of 1.56 toe in 2012, before reaching its lowest value, 1.28 toe per inhabitant, in 2020. In 2021, EU's production was 1.34 toe per inhabitant.

Figure 1: Primary energy production, 2011-2021
(toe per inhabitant)
Source: Eurostat (nrg_bal_s), (demo_gind), (enps_nrg_bal_c) and (enps_demo_pjangr)

Energy trade

Net imports are calculated as the quantity of imports minus the equivalent quantity of exports. Imports represent all entries into the national territory excluding transit quantities; exports similarly cover all quantities exported from the national territory.

Among the ENP-South countries, the largest net importers of energy products were Morocco (19.1 million toe in 2020 – latest available data) and Israel (6.5 million toe in 2021 and 9.8 million toe in 2020). These two countries were also the largest net importers in 2011 (Israel with 17.8 million toe and Morocco with 17.5 million toe). It is also interesting to note that, despite being endowed with considerable natural resources, Egypt was also a net importer of energy products (1.1 million toe in 2021); in 2011 Egypt was a net exporter, with 16.3 million toe. Jordan was also a net importer with 9.3 million toe in 2017 (latest available data); in 2011 it recorded 7.0 million toe. By contrast, Algeria was a sizeable net exporter of energy, 94.1 million toe in 2021, down from 110.8 million toe in 2011. The remaining ENP-South countries were also net importers: Lebanon, with 7.9 million toe in 2018 (latest available data); Tunisia with 5.9 million toe in 2020; and Palestine with 1.7 million toe in 2019 (latest data available). They all recorded increases from their levels in 2011; Lebanon up by 25.8 % in 2018 (from 2011), Palestine by 41.5 % in 2019, while Tunisia more than doubled its net imports in 2020 (138.3 %).

The EU is a net importer of energy, totalling 812.1 million toe in 2021, compared with 879.0 million toe in 2011.

Table 2: Net imports, 2011, 2020 and 2021
Source: Eurostat (nrg_bal_s), (demo_pjangroup), (enps_nrg_bal_c) and (enps_demo_pjangr)

Relative to the population size, Algeria came first, as the only net exporter in the latest years, with 1.8 toe per inhabitant in 2021, as well as in 2011 and 2020 (3.0 and 2.0 toe per inhabitant, respectively). The net importers in decreasing order were: Lebanon recorded 1.7 toe per inhabitant in 2018 (latest available data) and Israel 1.1 toe per inhabitant in 2021 (1.7 in 2020). The ratio for Lebanon is not available in 2011; for Israel it was 2.3 toe per inhabitant in 2011. Jordan followed with 0.9 toe per inhabitant in 2017 (latest available data), down from 1.0 toe per inhabitant in 2011. Morocco recorded 0.6 toe per inhabitant in 2020, which was slightly higher than the level in 2011 (0.5 toe per inhabitant). Tunisia had 0.5 toe per inhabitant in 2020, a substantial increase from 0.2 toe per inhabitant in 2011. Palestine recorded one of the lowest levels in 2019 (latest available data), with 0.3 toe per inhabitant, the same level as in 2011. Egypt passed from a net exporter in 2011 (0.2 toe per inhabitant) to a net importer in 2021 (0.01 toe per inhabitant).

EU was a net importer with 1.8 toe per inhabitant in 2021, down from 2.0 toe per inhabitant in 2011.

The energy dependency rate shows the proportion of energy that an economy must import. It is defined as net energy imports divided by gross available energy, expressed as a percentage. A positive dependency rate indicates a net importer of energy while a dependency rate in excess of 100 % indicates that energy products have been stocked.

In 2021, three ENP-South countries recorded energy dependencies of less than 60 %: Egypt (1.2 %), Israel (27.5 %) and Tunisia (54.7 % - 2020 data). Palestine recorded a dependency rate of 86.4 % (2019 data), followed by Morocco (88.3 % - 2020 data), Jordan (94.1 % - 2017 data), Lebanon (98.9 % - 2019 data) and Libya (102.4 % - 2020 data). Being a net exporter, Algeria's dependency rate was negative (-134.5 %). In comparison, EU's energy dependency rate stood at 55.5 % in 2021.

Figure 2: Energy dependency, 2021
(% of net imports in gross available energy, based on toe)
Source: Eurostat (nrg_bal_s) and (enps_nrg_bal_c)

Electricity generation

The highest shares of electricity generation from renewable sources among the ENP-South countries were in Palestine (27.0 %, out of the total generation of 0.7 Terawatt-hour (TWh) – 2020 data; latest available data) and Morocco (18.4 %, out of the total generation of 42.2 TWh – 2021). Egypt came third with a share of 12.2 %, out of 204.8 TWh in 2021, followed by Jordan, with a share of 7.9 %, out of 21.0 TWh in 2018 (latest available data) and Israel, with a share of 7.5 %, out of 73.8 TWh in 2021. Tunisia and Algeria had shares below 5 % in (3.9 % out of 21.6 TWh in 2020 (latest available data) and 0.8 % out of 85.4 TWh in 2021, respectively). Libya's total electricity generation accounted for 37.0 TWh in 2020 (latest available data); no data available on electricity generation from renewable sources. No data are available for Lebanon.

EU's total electricity production in 2021 was 2 906.5 TWh, with a share of electricity production from renewable sources which stood at 37.9 %.

Figure 3: Gross electricity production from renewable and other energy sources, 2021
(in TWh)
Source: Eurostat (nrg_bal_peh) and Eurostat data collection.

Gross inland consumption

Gross inland energy consumption is the energy that a country requires to meet its internal (national) demand. It covers consumption by the energy sector itself; distribution and transformation losses; final energy consumption by end users; non-energy use by end users (such as feedstock for the petrochemical industry, lubricants); and statistical differences. It represents the total energy demand of a country or region from all sources necessary to satisfy inland consumption.

Final energy consumption is the total energy consumed by end users, such as households, industry and agriculture. It is the energy which reaches the final consumer's door. Energy consumption by the energy sector itself is therefore not included in the definition of final energy consumption.

Figure 4 shows the development of gross inland energy consumption over the period 2011-2021. Israel's gross inland energy consumption decreased slowly from 3.0 toe per inhabitant in 2012 to 2.5 toe per inhabitant in 2021 (data not available before 2012). Gross inland energy consumption in Algeria rose between 2011 and 2014 (from 1.3 to 1.6 toe per inhabitant). In 2015 it decreased (to 1.4 toe per inhabitant), after which it rose again to reach 1.6 toe per inhabitant in 2018-2019 and 2021. Tunisia's gross inland consumption was relatively constant between 2011 and 2020, ranging between 0.8 and 1.0 toe per inhabitant. Lebanon's data is very limited: gross inland consumption stood at 1.9 toe per inhabitant in 2012 and was estimated at 1.7 toe per inhabitant in 2018. Jordan's gross inland consumption was constant between 2011 and 2014, at 1.1 toe per inhabitant. In 2015 it recorded a decrease to 1.0 toe per inhabitant, a level which remained unchanged until 2018 (latest data available). Egypt, Morocco and Palestine had a gross inland energy consumption of less than 1.0 toe per inhabitant during the period, with the only exception being 2018 for Egypt at 1.0 toe per inhabitant, while it stood at 0.9 toe per inhabitant in 2011-2016 and 2019-2021, no data available for 2017. In Morocco it stood at 0.6 toe per inhabitant in 2011-2018 and 2020 (latest available data) while in 2019 it was 0.7 toe per inhabitant; and in Palestine it stood at 0.4 toe per inhabitant between 2011-2020 (latest available data) with an exception of 0.3 toe per inhabitant in 2012.

EU's gross inland energy consumption was relatively stable over the period 2011-2021. It stood at 3.4 toe per inhabitant in 2011 and 3.2 toe per inhabitant in 2021.

Figure 4: Gross inland energy consumption, 2011-2021
(toe per inhabitant)
Source: Eurostat (nrg_bal_s), (demo_gind), (nrg_bal_s), (enps_nrg_bal_c) and (enps_demo_pjangr)

Figure 5 shows the structure of final energy consumption. If a country's industrial sector output declines or the sector becomes more energy efficient, such as by changing the mix of industries, the shares of other sectors in final energy consumption inevitably grow. Countries with smaller industrial sectors tend to show larger household shares of final energy consumption.

In 2021, Algeria had the largest share of transport and households in its final energy consumption, with 35.4 % and 35.2 %, respectively, followed by industry 22.0 % and other sectors 7.4 %. In Jordan, the largest share in 2018 (latest available data) was in transport with 48.9 %. Households came second with 24.2 %, followed by industry 13.6 % and other sectors 13.3 %. Morocco's largest share of final consumption in 2020 (latest available data) was in transport (36.0 %), followed by households (28.3 %), industry (19.8 %) and other sectors (15.9 %). In 2011, the structure was similar: transport 38.0 %, households 24.3 %, industry 22.7 % and other sectors 15.0 %. Palestine's structure was dominated in 2020 (latest available data) by households and transport (43.2 % and 42.9 %, respectively), followed by other sectors (9.6 %) and industry (4.3 %). In 2011, the structure was also dominated by households (56.6 %), followed by transport (30.1 %) and other sectors (9.1 %), industry had the same level as in 2020 (4.3 %). In Tunisia, transport had the highest share (31.1 %), followed by households (29.3 %), industry (24.6 %) and other sectors (14.9 %) in 2020 (latest available data). No data are available for Egypt, Israel and Lebanon.

EU's final energy consumption was more evenly distributed; in 2021, the transport sector accounted for the largest share in its final energy consumption with 29.2 % (0.63 percentage points (pp) lower than in 2011), followed by households with 27.9 % (0.9 pp higher than in 2011), industry with 25.6 % (0.6 pp lower than in 2011) and other sectors with 17.3 % (0.3 pp higher than in 2011).

Figure 5: Structure of final energy consumption, by sector, 2011, 2020 and 2021
(% of total energy consumption)
Source: Eurostat (nrg_bal_s) and (enps_nrg_bal_c1)

Greenhouse gas emissions

The information presented in Figure 6 shows developments for the combined output of six different greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), methane (CH₄), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆). The basic data are annual emissions estimated and reported according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines.

Among the four ENP-South countries for which data is available for 2020 and a year approximatively a decade earlier, greenhouse gas emissions were rising. Most of the ENP-South countries are in the process of economic development and population growth is also faster than in the EU; these factors may, to some degree, explain the increases in emissions that are observed. Relatively rapid growth was recorded in Palestine where greenhouse gas emissions rose by 49.7 % during the period 2011-2020. Morocco's emissions rose by 45.3 % between 2010 (no data for 2011) and 2020. Jordan's gas emissions rose by 43.5 % during the period 2010-2020. The increase in Israel was much smaller, 0.1 % between 2011 and 2020. Egypt reported data only for 2009, while data is not available for Algeria, Lebanon and Tunisia.

In 2020, the EU generated 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, 22.1 % lower than in 2011.

Figure 6: Greenhouse gas emissions, 2011 and 2020
(thousand tonnes of CO₂ equivalents)
Source: Eurostat (env_air_gge) and Eurostat data collection.

Relative to the population size, Israel recorded a decrease of 1.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, from 10.0 tonnes per person in 2011 to 8.5 tonnes per person in 2020. Morocco registered an increase of 0.7 tonnes per person between 2010 (2011 not available) and 2020, from 2.3 to almost 2.9 tonnes per person. Palestine also recorded a small increase of greenhouse gas emissions relative to its population size: from 0.8 tonnes per person in 2011 to 1.0 tonnes per person in 2020. Egypt recorded a level of 4.0 tonnes per person in 2009 (latest available data). Jordan recorded a decrease of 0.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, from 4.1 tonnes per person in 2010 to 3.6 tonnes per person for 2020. No data are available for Algeria, Lebanon and Tunisia.

EU's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 1.7 tonnes per person between 2011 and 2020, from 7.3 to 5.6 tonnes per person.

Figure 7: Greenhouse gas emissions, 2011 and 2020
(tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person)
Source: Eurostat (env_air_gge), (demo_gind) and Eurostat data collection.

Water

Freshwater abstraction per inhabitant, as shown in Figure 8, is based on the resources available over the long term, a minimum of 20 years. For the ENP-South countries for which data are available, the freshwater abstraction ranged from just 0.8 cubic metres per inhabitant in Egypt in 2010 (2020 data not available) to 262.0 cubic metres per inhabitant in Morocco in 2010. Algeria's freshwater abstraction increased compared with 2010, from 202.3 cubic metres per inhabitant to 237.5 cubic metres per inhabitant, while in Palestine an increase was recorded from 68.2 cubic metres per inhabitant in 2010 to 69.9 cubic metres per inhabitant in 2020. Morocco's freshwater abstraction essentially decreased from 262.0 cubic metres per inhabitant in 2010 to 194.5 cubic metres per inhabitant in 2020. The second highest decrease was recorded in Israel from 177.4 cubic metres per inhabitant in 2010 to 139.6 cubic metres per inhabitant in 2020. A decrease was also recorded in Jordan, from 121.5 cubic metres per inhabitant in 2010 to 107.1 cubic metres per inhabitant in 2020. Tunisia recorded a level of 258.0 cubic metres per inhabitant in 2010 (latest data available). No data are available for Lebanon.

Figure 8: Total freshwater abstraction (fresh surface and groundwater), 2010 and 2020
(cubic metres per inhabitant)
Source: Eurostat (enps_env_wat_abs) and (enps_demo_pjangr)

Municipal waste

Municipal waste is mainly produced by households, though similar wastes from sources such as distributive trades, offices and public institutions are included in the data presented. Waste from agriculture and from industry is excluded from this indicator. Municipal waste consists of waste collected by or on behalf of municipal authorities and disposed of through the waste management system. For areas not covered by a municipal waste collection scheme, the reporting countries estimate the amount of waste generated.

The quantity of municipal waste generated per inhabitant increased in Egypt from 2010 to 2015 by 43.9 %, being the highest increase among the ENP-South countries for which data is available. Israel's quantity of municipal waste generated per inhabitant increased by 6.9 % between 2010 and 2020. The increase for Algeria was 13.1 % between 2009 (2010 data not available) and 2020. In Jordan and Palestine, the increases were 5.9 % between 2010 and 2020 and 7.9 % between 2011 and 2015 (the latest available data), respectively. The change for Tunisia cannot be calculated as no recent data is available. The amount of municipal waste generated per inhabitant in Tunisia was 224.8 kg in 2012 (most recent data available). No data are available for Lebanon and Morocco.

In 2020, the amount of municipal waste generated per inhabitant in the EU was 521.0 kg. This was more than the amount generated per person in 2010, at 503.0 kg per inhabitant (3.6 %).

Figure 9: Municipal waste generated, 2010 and 2020
(kg per inhabitant)
Source: Eurostat (env_wasmun), (enps_env_wat_abs) and (enps_demo_pjangr)

Source data for tables and graphs

European Neighbourhood Policy — South countries — energy and environment: tables and figures

Data sources

Data for ENP-South countries are supplied by and under the responsibility of the national statistical authorities of each country on a voluntary basis. The data presented in this article result from an annual data collection cycle that has been established by Eurostat. No recent data are available from either Libya or Syria. These statistics are available free-of-charge on Eurostat's website, together with a range of different indicators covering most socio-economic areas.

Energy

For EU statistics, the main legislation covering the collection of statistics in relation to energy quantities is Regulation (EC) No 1099/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 on energy statistics. Since its adoption, it has been amended several times and a consolidated version is available. A summary of the relevant legislation is also available on Eurostat's website, under 'Legislation' on the dedicated section for Energy statistics.

Environment

Eurostat, in close partnership with the European Environment Agency (EEA), provides environmental statistics, accounts and indicators supporting the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the EU's environmental policies, strategies and initiatives. Data on greenhouse gas emissions as reported under the United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) are collected by the EEA. Eurostat collects official statistics in relation to a broad selection of subject areas, for example, waste, water, material flows and environmental protection expenditure.

The Kyoto Protocol, an environmental agreement adopted by many of the parties to the UNFCCC in 1997 to curb global warming, covers six greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), which are non-fluorinated gases, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆), which are fluorinated gases. Converting them to carbon dioxide equivalents makes it possible to compare them and to determine their individual and total contributions to global warming. A new agreement on greenhouse gas emissions was reached in Paris in late 2015; this provides the basis for emissions mitigation and adaptation from 2020 onwards.

Eurostat's data on waste is collected from EU Member States on the basis of a Regulation on waste statistics (2150/2002/EC) and is published every two years in line with common methodological recommendations. Landfill is the deposit of waste into or onto land; it includes specially engineered landfill sites and temporary storage of over one year on permanent sites. The definition covers both landfill in internal sites, in other words, where a generator of waste is carrying out its own waste disposal at the place of generation and in external sites.

The collection of water statistics within the EU is based on information demands linked to the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Eurostat and the OECD jointly administer a questionnaire on inland waters among EU Member States, candidate countries and potential candidates. Data collection is voluntary although there is an initiative to establish a legal framework for the collection of water statistics.

A large amount of data and other information on water is accessible via WISE, the water information system for Europe, which is hosted by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in Copenhagen.

Tables in this article use the following notation:

Value in italics	data value is forecasted, provisional or estimated and is therefore likely to change;
:	not available, confidential or unreliable value;

Context

Energy has been a key feature on the EU's policy agenda for a number of years, largely as a result of fluctuating energy prices; security of supply; and human induced effects of energy use on climate change, in particular, increased levels of greenhouse gas emissions. The use of renewable energy sources is seen as a key element of the EU's energy policy and should help to improve energy security; support the achievement of a carbon neutral society; and decouple energy costs from oil prices.

Alongside this, EU policy has also supported the development of gas pipeline and electricity transmission networks across the EU, as well as of common rules to increase competition between suppliers and promote consumer choice. Energy crises have underlined the EU's need to work with its neighbours on energy security, including diversification of energy sources, routes and suppliers.

In January 2014, the European Commission put forward a 2030 climate and energy framework with the aim of encouraging private investment in infrastructure and low-carbon technologies. The key targets proposed were to have 40 % less greenhouse gases in 2030 than in 1990 and for the share of renewable energy in consumption to reach at least 27 % by 2030. Alongside the proposed targets were plans to reform the emissions trading system and to consider further amendments to the energy efficiency directive.

The EU's 2050 long-term strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions was laid out in November 2018, with the aim of making Europe the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050 in response to the climate and environmental emergency.

In consequence, the European Commission announced the European Green Deal in December 2019. This is an action plan in support of the 2050 long-term strategy with a further reduction in 2030 greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990 levels; invest in research and innovation; and preserve Europe's natural environment.

As of 2021, European Union climate legislation to implement these proposals is undergoing detailed development in the EU Council and European Parliament. This package considers the actions required across all sectors, including a reduction of 2030 greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990 levels of at least 55 %, to be implemented through support for increased energy efficiency and renewable energy. This will enable the EU to move towards a climate-neutral economy and implement its commitments under the Paris Agreement. This process has resulted in a proposal before the European Parliament for a European Strategy for Energy System Integration.

In June 2021, the European climate law was adopted. The climate law is a key element of the European Green Deal. It sets the framework for actions by the EU and the Member States for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % compared with 1990 levels by 2030 and reach climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. The climate law is complemented by the European climate pact and the 2030 climate target plan. This will enable the EU to move towards a climate-neutral economy and implement its commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Another key part of the EU's work towards climate neutrality is the so-called Fit for 55 package. It is the EU's key plan to turn the climate goals into EU law and comprises a set of proposals for revision of existing legislation and new initiatives. In the key area of energy, the EU is taking action on issues such as increased energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), launched in 2003 and developed throughout 2004, supports and fosters stability, security and prosperity in the EU's neighbourhood. The ENP was revised in 2015. The main principles of the revised policy are a tailored approach to partner countries; flexibility; joint ownership; greater involvement of EU Member States and shared responsibility. The ENP aims to deepen engagement with civil society and social partners. It offers partner countries greater access to the EU's market and regulatory framework, standards and internal agencies and programmes.

The Joint Communication on Renewed Partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood – A new Agenda for the Mediterranean, accompanied by an Economic and Investment Plan for the Southern neighbours, of 9 February 2021 further guides cooperation with the ENP-South countries.

The main objective of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in statistics is to enable the production and dissemination of reliable and comparable data, in line with European and international norms and standards.

Reliable and comparable data are essential for evidence-based decision-making. They are needed to monitor the implementation of the agreements between the EU and the ENP-South countries, the impact of policy interventions and the reaching of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The EU has been supporting statistical capacity building in the region for a number of years through bilateral and regional capacity-building activities. This takes the form of technical assistance to partner countries' national statistical authorities through targeted assistance programmes, such as the MEDSTAT programme and activities such as training courses, working groups and workshops, exchange of best practice and the transfer of statistical know-how. Additional information on the policy context of the ENP is provided here.

Notes

↑ This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the EU Member States on this issue.