Brussels, 25/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, at the Energy Council, the Fifteen reached a political agreement on the "Intelligent Energy for Europe (2003-2006)" programme which aims to finance actions in the energy field for 2003 to 2006, after expiry of the current programme, on 31 December 2002. Ministers also adopted without debate the proposal of directive on energy efficiency in new and existing buildings. Finally, the Council adopted conclusions on the follow-up to the Johannesburg Summit on sustainable development and on the Energy Charter. Furthermore, the Commissioner responsible for energy policy, Loyola de Palacio, presented to ministers her proposals relating to cogeneration and nuclear safety in the European Union .
The only outstanding point concerning the "Intelligent Energy for Europe" programme was that of financing. While the Commission had initially proposed a budget of EUR 215 million over four years, the Council agreed to 190 million. "The Commission is ready to accept this amount and undertakes to defend it before the European Parliament", Commissioner de Palacio had declared during Council deliberations. It will not be easy to defend in so far as the European Parliament amended the proposal of Directive during its plenary last week, calling for the financing of the programme to be increased by EUR 40 million, taking it to 255 million. Germany, Austria, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Greece were among the delegations the most opposed to the budget proposed by the Commission, while Belgium, Portugal, Spain and Ireland supported the Commission.