Warsaw, 19/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - European Union energy ministers will discuss a new energy strategy at their meeting in Wroc³aw, Poland, on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 September. The informal meeting of the Energy Council will be attended by European Commissioner Günther Oettinger and Jean-Paul Decaestecker, the head of the energy unit at the Secretariat General of the Council of the EU.
Poland, which holds the rotating Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, has made no secret of its desire to push the European debate on this issue: “We would like energy ministers, before the end of the year, to adopt conclusions which respond to the following question: what sort of relations should we have with our key partners?” Polish Secretary of State for European Affairs Mikolaj Dowgielewicz told Agence Europe.
At issue, principally, is Europe's energy independence from Russian gas. EU dependence on Russian gas is a matter that has already been raised by Commissioner Oettinger during the recent stand-off between Russia and, not Ukraine this time, but Belarus. This confrontation saw Lithuania deprived of its energy supply. In the quest for energy independence, exploitation of schist gas and nuclear power are favoured by some member states, though others voice different opinions - Germany, for example, wants no longer to use nuclear power.
In addition to the search for an EU external energy strategy, member states will discuss joint infrastructure. “We want to improve the effectiveness of Community institutions in this area”, said Polish Economy Minister Waldemar Pawlak who believes that “adoption of rules that bring greater transparency to energy markets and guarantee the supply of raw materials will be very important for us”.
Tackling CO2 emissions and global warming and promoting a low-energy economy will also feature in discussions. Polish Deputy Economy Minister, with responsibility for energy, oil and gas, Maciej Kaliski has sought to reassure doomsayers and promised that “Poland will meet all its climate obligations by 2020”. (VW/transl.rt)