Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

Transition to an eco-efficient economy

The climate challenge will be met and the European Union’s competitiveness strengthened through a transition to an eco-efficient economy. In order to get there, many policy areas have to contribute. Efforts in the transport, telecommunication and energy area are important for financial recovery and for the development of an eco-efficient society.

Europe, as well as the rest of the world, is currently facing one of the deepest economic crises in history. There is strong pressure on the leaders of Europe to show us the way to sustainable growth, long-term competitiveness and new jobs.
At the same time, the world is facing one of the greatest long-term challenges of all time – global climate change. During the Swedish Presidency, a crucial climate meeting will take place in Copenhagen. The EU holds a leading position in these negotiations and Sweden will speak on behalf of the EU at the meeting.
These crises cannot be solved in isolation, but must be dealt with as a whole. Europe needs to shift to an Eco-efficient Economy. This involves:
-combining competitiveness with environmental responsibility through more efficient use of energy, raw materials and transport systems.
-making use of the potential for jobs and growth that are the result of a greater demand for environmentally adapted products, services and solutions.

Many policy areas must contribute

To bring about a transition to an Eco-efficient Economy, many different policy areas must contribute. Policies for industry, environment, energy, transport and IT as well as regional growth and agricultural policy must all pull in the same direction. The traditional barriers between policy areas must be broken down.
An Eco-efficient Economy will be a common theme of the informal ministerial meetings of the environment, energy and competitiveness ministers. The Stockholm Environment Institute has produced a report, commissioned by the Government, that is intended to serve as a common basis for the three informal Council meetings. Our ambition is that, as a result of the discussion across the traditional ministerial boundaries, there will be more of a holistic approach rather than a ‘silo’ mentality in future EU work.

Priority issues

The Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications has identified certain priority issues during the Swedish Presidency that are all clearly related to an eco-efficient economy:
-A sustainable industrial policy
-Effective energy systems
-A future transport policy
-A future European IT policy
-Better regulations
-Small and medium-sized enterprises,  including women’s entrepreneurship
Initiatives in these areas contribute to economic recovery, while taking account of the environmental challenges facing the world.

A ”green theme”

Eco-efficient Economy will be a ‘green theme’ running through the priorities of the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications. The objective is to contribute to the future EU strategy for growth and employment (post-Lisbon). These efforts also aim at supporting the climate negotiations in Copenhagen, by stressing that action to meet against climate change is also an important engine for growth, jobs and competitiveness.