Citizens of the 28 European countries that make up the European Union will be able to "take ownership" of their energy supply needs through smart meters, domestic generation, and choosing their energy suppliers under a new Energy Union (EU).

As member countries integrate their markets and increase security of supply under this policy, investments of €200 billion ($227 billion) per year are expected over the next decade, reports World Nuclear News.

The EU is a flagship project of the new president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, whose vice president Maroš Šefčovič is in charge of achieving the EU goals.

The initiative likely will require large changes in infrastructure, such as electricity transmission between countries, and the completion of the internal market on energy. Regulators of each country's market will in effect be regulated to allow consumers a choice of energy suppliers.

The supply of gas and its pricing is one main issue in terms of energy security. The EU promises to look into access points, transport, and storage, particularly considering winter need for the fuel to avoid service disruptions. The group also wants at least 30% of energy to come from renewable sources by 2030.

"Putting the EU at the forefront of smart grid and smart home technology, clean transport, as well as clean fossil fuel and the world's safest nuclear generation, is central to the aim of turning the EU into a motor of growth, jobs and competitiveness," according to the project's strategic framework.

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