European energy ministers underlined, on Tuesday 25 June in Luxembourg, the importance of ensuring that the EU's internal and external policies are “coherent”, especially regarding the EU's climate objectives and security of energy supply.
The European ministers had a long debate on external energy relations, whereas last year it was only a ‘miscellaneous item’.
Several delegations called for the EU to provide global leadership in areas such as energy efficiency and renewable energy.
European ministers highlighted the important energy partnerships with the US, China, the Eastern Mediterranean region and Africa.
Some countries, such as Poland, have called on the European Commission to work towards an agreement between the parties (Russia, Ukraine and the European Union) on the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukrainian territory (see EUROPE 12275/16).
Greece and Cyprus, supported by the other EU countries, once again denounced Turkey's ongoing illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, referring to the firm conclusions of the European Council of 20 June on this matter (see EUROPE 12279/3). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)