Brussels, 09/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - Increased coordination at EU level and diversification of suppliers including new sources of oil, gas and electricity for member states that are mainly dependent on Russia should, the European Parliament energy committee states, be key elements of the EU's external energy policy.
Adopted by 47 votes to 11, with one abstention on Tuesday 8 May, the report by Hungarian Socialist Edit Herczog on cooperation between the EU and its energy partners, bases its proposals on the principle that energy should be seen principally as a commodity and should not be used as a foreign policy tool. She stressed that Europe, if it used such a principle in a coordinated way and took a firm, common negotiating position with third countries, would nearly always be in a good bargaining position.
The Herczog report calls for better coordination between member states and the Commission in order to fully benefit from the political and economic weight of the EU. In this context, it underlines the added value of Commission assistance during the negotiating processes. Also, it invites the Council to grant the Commission a negotiating mandate - in cases that are crucial for the EU27's energy security - for intergovernmental agreements or infrastructure projects.
Furthermore, the diversification of suppliers, routes and sources is deemed necessary in order to secure the EU's energy supply. Calling for true competition between gas suppliers, the members of the energy committee adopted an amendment stipulating that diversification should be based on “new non-Russian sources of oil, gas and electricity for those member states which are overly dependent on this single supplier”, namely Russia. Russian gas accounts for only 24% of gas consumed EU-wide. However, in 12 out of the 27 member states it accounts for more than 48%. MEPs also call for an initiative aimed at increasing the share of LNG (liquefied natural gas) in the EU.
The Herczog report also underlines the need for the EU to extend its environmental and security standards and ensure that all types of power plants next to the EU's borders comply with the highest standards of nuclear safety.
Finally, welcoming the intensified efforts for cooperation with Switzerland as well as the proposed EU-Southern Mediterranean Energy Partnership, the Herczog report calls on the Commission to develop joint energy roadmaps with key suppliers and partners.
The Herczog report will be put to the vote in the plenary assembly in June this year. (EH/transl.jl)