Brussels, 19/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Luxembourg on Wednesday, the Commission postponed to next week the adoption of the Final Report on the Commission's Green Paper "Towards a European Energy Supply Security Policy", following reservations by certain Commissioners, notably on the question of strategic energy and nuclear strategic stocks.
The Green Paper, which lies at the origin of this new Commission communication, highlights the Union's energy dependence on imports of fossil fuels and places emphasis on the need for a long-term forward-looking energy supply security policy, with a market follow-up mechanism and intervention instruments, and by strengthening relations between countries. The Green Paper proposes a framework regarding strategic reserves of oil and gas allowing to ensure greater price stability and resting on solidarity between Member States, enhanced dialogue with producer countries, the need to develop a security concept on the scale of the European continent (the dialogue with Russia is an example). EUROPE has reason to believe that the question of strategic stocks led to reservations among some Commissioners, wanting to avoid references to price mechanism, the conclusion of supply agreements and the early use of stocks. Another proposal of the Green Paper has led to mitigated reactions: the idea of having conventional energies finance the development of new and renewable energies. The Green Paper considers that nuclear power makes it possible to avoid greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and should remain an option in the EU but it admits that clear answers must be given to the question of nuclear safety (reprocessing and transporting nuclear waste), particularly in an enlarged Europe. The Commission should soon be examining a proposal to lead to a genuine Community approach to nuclear safety in the form of standards, common practices and European control mechanisms. EUROPE understands that Wallström, Schreyer, Fischler and Diamantopoulou do not agree over the link between nuclear energy and climate change. There are also reported to be disagreements over the concrete proposals to harmonise energy taxation and transport charges.