Brussels, 30/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - In addition to the follow-up of the first European Council on energy at the beginning of 2011, the Energy Council will be repositioning itself on the future development of renewable energy sources.
Common energy policy. European energy ministers will be meeting up under the presidency of their Cypriot counterpart, Neoklis Sylikiotis. They will assess the progress made in the work since the Energy Council of February 2011 (EUROPE 10309). The presidency is updating the document submitted to the Energy Council 23 November 2011, which focuses on six areas of action for which the deadlines and priorities have been set out: energy efficiency; renewables; the internal energy market; infrastructure; external relations; and nuclear power.
Internal market. The Commission will present its communication on the functioning of the internal market, adopted on 15 November. This urges member states to make a concerted effort to implement the third liberalisation package and reduce their respective state intervention, which is causing market distortions (see EUROPE 10731).
Renewables. The Council will adopt conclusions on the basis of the communication presented in June by the Commission. This provides orientations on support for green energies by 2020 and after (see EUROPE 10628). Ministers' conclusions defining future areas of action focus on: the opening up of the internal electricity market, integration of renewable energies into the networks, innovative technologies and sustainability, cooperation and trade, and the post-2020 strategic framework.
Offshore activities. The Presidency and the Commission will inform the Council about the progress made in the work on the draft regulation on ensuring security for oil and gas activities at sea. The first trilogue with the European Parliament took place on 29 November (see EUROPE 10707). (EH/transl.fl)