Brussels, 01/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - The final session of the Energy Council on Friday 3 December will see the ministers enshrine conclusions on an energy policy more targeted towards the consumer, initiated by the Belgian Presidency through Energy Minister Paul Magnette. Also expected are the adoption of conclusions on the safety of offshore drilling and a discussion on the energy strategy 2011-2020, which was presented by the European Commission in November.
Consumers. Conclusions on an energy policy more targeted towards the consumer come further to the discussions of the informal Council of 6-7 September in Brussels. Within the framework of the European year for combating poverty and social exclusion, the text is set to stress the importance of the energy policy in guaranteeing a safe and sustainable supply to all citizens, including the most vulnerable. It should also lay emphasis on the need for the member states fully to implement the provisions of the third liberalisation package as regards consumers, but also on the fact that energy efficiency could constitute an appropriate component of social policy. The conclusions will also call for the creation of an energy ombudsman.
Offshore drilling. The ministers are expected to adopt conclusions following on from the communication adopted by the Commission on 13 October on the safety of offshore drilling, in which the European executive calls for tougher rules on the safety of oil and gas exploration and extraction activities, but does not call for a moratorium on new offshore drilling. The text will stress the need for full considerations of all aspects of offshore drilling, in order to learn from last April's explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon platform in the Gulf of Mexico, causing a massive oil spill and unprecedented ecological disaster. The idea is to achieve higher levels of safety, environmental protection, maritime security and preparation. The Commission will be called upon to present, as early in 2011 as possible, concrete proposals, including legislative acts. However, the conclusions contain no trace of any call for activities to be suspended in the meantime.
Energy strategy 2011-2020. The ministers will hold an initial exchange of views on the new common energy strategy for 2020 and on the infrastructure package, both of which were proposed at the beginning of November by Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger. This dossier will be back on the table of the Energy Council on 28 February 2011, but will previously have been examined by the first European Council specifically given over to energy, to be held in Brussels on 4 February.
Energy efficiency. The ministers will discuss energy savings over lunch, with the idea of facilitating the debates to follow the draft new action plan to energy efficiency, to be presented by the Commission early in 2011. (E.H./trans.fl)