Brussels, 28/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - During the Spanish EU Council Presidency's term of office, it will have a great deal of work to do regarding energy policy, with a view to adopting the energy action plan for EUROPE 2010-2014 by the Spring European Council. This is an energy strategy revised for the next five years, which will include the commitments of the energy/climate package of January 2008 and from the agreement concluded during the UN summit on climate, in December 2009 in Copenhagen. In addition to the promotion of sustainable energy, based on increased energy efficiency and the development of renewable energies, the Presidency highlights energy supply security, especially the strengthening of electricity and gas interconnection in the EU, explained Industry Minister Miguel Sebastián Gascón, who had come to present his energy priorities to the members of the EP energy committee chaired by Herbert Reul (EPP, Germany), on Wednesday 27 January.
Continued implementation of the November 2008 action plan for energy security and solidarity is therefore the Presidency's main objective, placing emphasis on strengthened trans-European energy transport networks (TEN-E) and interconnections in the EU and the setting in place of early warning mechanisms, as well as solidarity in the face of the crisis. Sebastián Gascón plans to stimulate the Council's adoption of two draft regulations, one on gas supply security, and the other on transparency for investment projects in EU infrastructures. Madrid also wants to work alongside the future energy commissioner, Günter Oettinger, so that the EU speaks with a single voice in relations with third countries, and in order to include renewables in energy dialogue.
When it comes to sustainable energy, the Presidency will back the preparation by member states of their action plans for renewables, which are due to be handed in by June 2010. It also plans to influence the debate on reviewing the 2006 action plan for energy efficiency. The Presidency will, moreover, supervise the implementation of the strategy for energy technologies (SET-Plan) and foster development of industrial initiatives for solar energy, intelligent networks, and CO2 capture and storage.
Finally, the Presidency will support implementation of the 3rd legislative package for liberalisation of the internal market for energy with, in its line of sight, achievement of priority interconnection projects and getting the Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) up and running.
In response to a question from Pilar del Castillo (EPP, Spain) on the nuclear theme, Sebastián Gascón said Madrid hopes to present a text during its term of office on the management of waste and residue. (E.H./transl.jl)