Brussels, 04/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - A Swedish Presidency priority at the Council of Ministers, energy efficiency will be the main subject of debate at the 7 December meeting of EU energy ministers in Brussels, chaired by Swedish Energy Minister Maud Olofsson. The Energy Council will also examine security of energy supplies and with a view to striking agreement on where the headquarters of the new European Energy Regulators' Cooperation Agency, the Presidency will sound out ministers over dinner ahead of the Council meeting proper.
Energy efficiency. The Council will take note of progress on the three items of new legislation to improve energy efficiency published in November 2008 (see EUROPE 9782), namely the revised draft directive on the energy performance of buildings, the draft directive on energy efficiency labelling and the regulation on vehicle tyre labelling. Agreement was reached in three-way meetings on the first two items on 17 November (see EUROPE 10021), and the third was adopted by the European Parliament on 25 November (see EUROPE 10027).
Security of energy supplies. The Council will take note of a progress report on the draft regulation on the security of gas supplies unveiled by the Commission in July 2009 (see EUROPE 9944) and will hold a policy debate on the issue. The ministers will also take note of a progress report on the draft regulation on investment in EU energy infrastructure unveiled in July 2009 (see EUROPE 9944). The Council will discuss Regulation 663/2009/EC on economic recovery by providing EU financial aid for energy projects (see EUROPE 9937).
SET Plan. The Council will discuss funding of the EU strategy for the development of clean energy technology unveiled in early October (see EUROPE 9993).
International relations. Over dinner, the ministers will discuss the relationship between Russia and Ukraine on gas issues. The Commission and the Presidency will brief the ministers on the outcome of the recent EU-Russia summit, recent developments in the Energy Community ahead of the 18 December 2009 ministerial meeting in Zagreb, and the EU-United States Energy Council. (E.H./transl.fl)