Brussels, 20/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - 20 MEPs from 10 North Sea neighbouring countries and the 5 major political groups at the European Parliament (EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE and the Greens/EFA) handed over a manifesto to the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU on 11 January. This manifesto brings together the proposals to make the North Sea an exemplary example of a cooperation area in energy affairs, particularly with regard to offshore wind turbines. This question will be at the centre of a national directors' general level meeting for energy on 4 February in Amsterdam.
These 20 MEPs are calling on the political decision-makers in their respective countries (Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Sweden) to support existing structures (particularly the EU initiative for the offshore wind turbine network in the North Sea) in cooperation with the industry, social partners and the Commission and the creation of an Energy Union window in the North Sea.
The manifesto is based on a range of seven different recommendations: setting up a high-level group based around the European Commission; the elaboration of a network development plan over a 20 year period, in an effort to take into consideration the role played by emerging renewable marine energies; the creation of a financial instrument link to the EFSI and dedicated to offshore wind turbines and electric cable infrastructure. The manifesto is available at the following website: https://goo.gl/hYfXWC . (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)