Günther Oettinger, Energy
(Germany, Christian Democrat)

Background

A lawyer by training, very little was known of Günther Oettinger at the European level before his appointment as Energy Commissioner earlier this year. Oettinger entered German national politics in 1998 when he became a member of the Baden-Württemberg parliament. From 2005, Oettinger held the position of minister president of the region.  As a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU) and not of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union party, Oettinger may exercise his duties as European Commissioner in Brussels with a certain degree of freedom from the German executive.

 

Stated objectives on taking office

• To promote energy security through improved cooperation between Member States and to consider possible binding measures to ensure EU solidarity on gas supplies;
• To propose an energy efficiency action plan in the course of 2011 with binding targets, if these prove necessary;
• To ensure that the EU can adopt a better coordinated stance on international energy issues.

Members of the Cabinet

Michael KOEHLER, Head of Cabinet, Relations with DG ENER, International Energy Relations (Coordination)
Olivier ONIDI, Deputy Head of Cabinet, Overall coordination of Energy policy
Marzena ROGALSKA, Member, Energy Efficiency, Relations with the IAEA, Nuclear Safeguards, Euratom Supply Agency, Non nuclear Energy research
Paula PINHO, Member, Security of supply and Networks
Heinrich HICK, Member, Energy Research coordination, Nuclear Energy, Euratom research, Energy wholesale markets
Michael HAGER, Member, Communication, Inter-institutional relations, Internal market

Marlene HOLZNER, Spokesperson

 

Main actions to date

• Redirecting unspent European Economic Recovery funds towards European cities to boost energy efficiency and renewables at the local and regional level;
• Initiating the preparation of a new long term strategy to 2050, which should be published after the summer;
• Confirming the EU’s commitment to untangle the Nabucco gas pipeline project, considered to be of strategic importance for the EU security of supply;
• Easing energy tensions with Russia by making his first visit outside of the EU to Russia, where he met with the Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, among others.

What to expect

Reaction in media and industry circles to a couple of slightly uninformed early comments by Commissioner Oettinger on Nabucco and on electricity prices, highlights the political and commercial sensitivity of his portfolio. 

 

Oettinger will have to play a balancing act on both energy security and energy efficiency issues. On energy security, he will need to improve the situation by ensuring the diversification of the supply routes and the establishment of solidarity measures while also maintaining good relationships with Moscow. On energy efficiency, the Commission is already two years behind schedule with an action plan, and Oettinger will want to avoid further delays. Moreover, it will be up to him to ensure that the plan includes measures to practically ensure that the 20% objective can be met.

 

With the deadline for the publication of the National Renewable Energy Action Plans at the end of June 2010, the Commissioner will at least have to comment on those plans and may, depending on the quality of these documents, need to pressure some Member States to improve them. This will certainly be interesting and will serve as a test of his political influence with Member States.