Brussels, 07/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Industry/Energy Council, which met in Brussels on Tuesday, under the Chairmanship of French Secretary of State for Industry Christian Perret made headway on a large number of issues. In addition to the conclusions reached on shipbuilding and the political agreement on renewable energies, mentioned in our earlier editions, the Council approved conclusions on energy efficiency as well as a protocol concerning the post ECSC Treaty, which has been forwarded to the Summit in Nice. On the other hand, the debate on relaunching projects financed in the context of the Synergy Programme do not seem to have moved forward. We give below an overview of work:
Innovation and competitiveness. The Council adopted conclusions and the multi-annual programme for enterprise (see EUROPE of 4 and 5 December p.9 and 6 December p.6).
Coal and steel. The Council approved the text of the ECSC Protocol, which was forwarded to the Summit in Nice. In order to settle the financial consequences of expiry of the ECSC Treaty on 23 July 2002, the Commission had proposed legal texts based on the following principles: 1) Transfer of ECSC heritage to the European Community; 2) Differentiation between this heritage and the EU budget; 3) Allocation of income from this heritage to research related to the coal and steel industry. Furthermore, the Commission presented its 14th report on the control of aid to the steel sector under Article 95 of the ECSC Treaty.
Reform of competition rules. Commissioner Monti briefly presented his proposal of reform on agreements and abuse of dominant position. The debate having been postponed, the Member States were invited to reply in writing to the Presidency's questions.
Shipbuilding. The Council adopted conclusions on the subject of aid and Korean competition (see EUROPE of 6 December).
Oil market. The Ministers and Energy Commissioner Ms Loyola de Palacio took stock of the situation over lunch on the results of the 7th International Energy Forum, held in Riyadh on 17-19 November this year. Along the lines of the Forum, the Council agreed, said Christian Perret, to: 1) continue dialogue with the oil producing countries, mainly by supporting the creation of a permanent secretariat for the International Energy Forum, "that will allow unimpassioned dialogue to continue"; 2) "better structure the position of Member States as has been done in Riyadh"; 3) promote the emergence of a long term vision for energy supply and demand in the European Union. "The excellent Green Paper of the Commission" on energy supplies in the EU is an excellent introduction in this sense, said the French Secretary of State.
Energy supplies. The Council gave its "unanimous support", according to the expression of the Council President, to the Green Paper presented by Commissioner de Palacio (see EUROPE of 30 November, p.5, and 29 November, p.9). After this first exchange of views, the "impetus is given" for the EU to avail itself of a "strategy" on energy supply and demand, said Christian Perret. "This is a tangible result we would not have thought of one year ago", he added. The Council is at present consolidating its work.
Promotion of renewable energy sources. The Council reached a political agreement (see EUROPE of 7 December, p.6).
Energy efficiency. The Council adopted conclusions (see following article).
Mediterranean dimension of European energy and transport policy. The Council noted the Commission's intention to soon present a communication on the Mediterranean dimension on energy and transport.
Electricity and gas market. The Commission confirmed it would present to the Stockholm Summit, next spring, proposals for accelerating liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets.
Energy Charter. The Council noted the state of progress of negotiations in the context of the energy Charter regarding transit, energy efficiency, investment and trade.
Synergy Programme. The Commission explained again the reason why it had cancelled the last calls for tenders in the context of the multi-annual framework programme for cooperation actions with third countries in the energy sector (1998-2002) and specified its intentions. "The calls for tender have been cancelled as the Synergy programme is not as effective as it should be (…). We must reach concrete results"', Commissioner de Palacio explained to the press. The Commission hopes to focus its resources (EUR 15 million) on a smaller and more effective number of projects. It will "present new guidelines for new calls for tender", completed the Commissioner, hoping that an agreement would be rapidly reached with the Council to allow the projects to be relaunched, with new aims and for new amounts. Ms de Palacio recalled that the initial Commission proposal, for limiting the amounts allocated to the project to EUR 400,000, was rejected by the Council. "I am willing to be flexible to reach a result", she concluded. Germany, especially, expressed concern about cancellation of the call for tenders.