Single market in 2014? The energy sector is part of the “Growth Plan for Europe” signed by 12 heads of government ahead of this week's summit. This Plan states a deadline of 2014 for the creation of a genuine and effective single energy market, with proper interconnections guaranteeing, or at least facilitating, the security of supply for all member states, amongst other things (see EUROPE/Documents 2561). This, in theory, is positive.
The most important thing that's missing. For some time now, the EU has been particularly active in the field of energy. All that's missing is the most important thing: a common policy. There has been an impressive number of responses to the current challenges. The initiatives of the Commission and stances of the European Parliament are all steps in the right direction and the member states are being more cooperative. But above all, in relations with supplier third countries (an aspect of fundamental importance to a Community which is largely lacking these), everyone is continuing to act on their own behalf. A European energy policy is not provided for by the treaties. It is for this reason that Jacques Delors launched the project of a European energy community, but his plan is still regarded as a sort of utopia. It is hardly rare for Mr Delors to be ahead of the curve: it took some 20 years for the economic wing of the EMU, the absence of which he ceaselessly deplored, to materialise. Will it need another 20 for the energy community?
In the meantime, the instruments which exist are not without their shortcomings. The Lisbon Treaty lays down the general objectives: security of supply, energy savings, developing new energies, interconnecting the networks, fighting climate change. But it gives no indications either of the details, or of the institutional competences and procedures: in practice, each member state is allowed to pursue its own national ends without having to answer to anyone.
Happily, progress has nonetheless been made. The member states are more cooperative since the days of the Berlusconi/Putin bilateral meetings with confidential and mysterious results, when a former German chancellor became the chairman of a Euro-Russian energy company, when the European Commission had to read the papers or listen to the radio to find out about what agreements its member states had in place with third countries, between a multinational giant and a large global supplier. At the moment, there is a certain amount of cooperation in place and the Commission acts whenever it has the opportunity and power to do so; but when it comes time to make decisions and as regards the essential elements, the European competences are weak.
Every man for himself. When national interests diverge, each country protects its own, particularly as regards external sources of supply. The Commission is trying to reconcile the positions and ensure that Community principles are observed, the member states are taking greater account of the respective interests than they once did; as regards the functioning of the single market, a mass of European rules is taking shape; it is, incidentally, the completion of this market that is central to the above-mentioned Growth Plan: interconnection of infrastructure, removal of regulatory barriers between the member states, joint measures to fight harmful emissions, etc.
But the principle of the common interest when it comes to energy supply is still underdeveloped, in some cases non-existent. Some of the agreements of a member state with large third-country suppliers are incompatible with Community rules; rivalry between the supply channels is in some cases a reality; the technical and financial aspects merge with international politics, reducing the powers of the Community bodies. How many complications still exist regarding Nabucco and its rivalry with the South Stream project, which will travel through Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovenia and Austria, to reach Italy! If Russia is acting on the basis of its undeniable size as a supplier to call for direct access to the European market (in order to benefit from more advantageous sales prices), the Commission is stressing the need for Russian oil to observe Community rules on competition and non-discrimination. Ukraine would like a three-way agreement with the EU and Russia, but we are all aware of the current political problems between Brussels and Kiev. And the political crisis with Iran and its political and military complications? Let's not even go there. But as for the 'Delors Project', I'm afraid we will have to wait. Let us rein in our ambitions for the time being.
(FR/transl.fl)