Brussels, 27/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - At a conference in Brussels on energy prices on Monday 23 June, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) called for greater EU integration and more coordination - in particular, through a European dialogue on energy.
“European coordination and cooperation are indispensable for both keeping prices in check and securing our energy supply”, said Stephane Buffetaut (Employers Group, France) in his opening statement. This position was vigorously taken up by all the participating stakeholders - from employers to employees via a range of civil society organisations which complained of a lack of coherence and coordination in Europe's energy policy management. Many expressed their frustration at the member states' competitive approach towards energy policy, said the EESC in a press release on 26 June.
The European Commission underlined the existence of several different groups and platforms which have, in the Commission's view, recently improved coherence in EU decision-making - such as the gas and electricity coordination groups, and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSOE) and for Gas (ENTSOG). Jean-Pierre Coulon (Employees Group, France) recognised that there have been positive developments but regretted that the work of these groups remains fragmented and that almost no effort has been made to involve civil society. “Energy, climate and industrial policy have to be better aligned and based on realistic technological developments and statistical data”, he said.
In the EESC's view, the public need to be involved in decision-making for two reasons - improving public acceptance of the changes involved in the low-carbon energy transition, tapping into the vast array of ideas expressed by non-experts; and reinvigorating the European venture through a truly participatory project that engages people and delivers tangible benefits. “A far-reaching, ambitious, coordinated programme of public engagement and involvement - a European energy dialogue - has to be created, enabling action-oriented conversation within and across all member states and providing policy-makers with the necessary input”, said Richard Adams (Various Interests Group, UK), underlining that the EESC is trying to persuade the European Commission to take the initiative in establishing this dialogue. (EH)