Strasbourg, 06/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday in Strasbourg, the European Commission discussed a five-point plan presented by Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, in order to react to the surge in oil prices and to take initiatives allowing the immediate and the structural problems to be tackled. The situation is very different from the oil crises of the seventies and eighties as it is a “permanent” crisis with demand that has increased more than expected without supply following suit, Mr Piebalgs told the press. He noted on several occasions that the European Union cannot act alone but must play an important role of catalyst at international level. Also, he was adamant about better coordination at EU level when it comes to oil stocks.
Commissioner's Piebalgs plan focuses on: (1) reducing energy demand by: - accelerating the European action plan on energy efficiency; - increasing pressure for rapid implementation of the new directive on construction and in favour of an agreement of the energy Council in December on the directive concerning energy services; - encouraging a more effective international action for energy efficiency, not only bilaterally but also at the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris; - organising with the British Presidency an international conference on energy efficiency in November this year; - establishing a forum of sustainable energy that will meet the first time on 13 and 14 October; (2) promoting the use of other forms of energy with: - an action plan on the biomass by the end of the year; - encouraging research in the wind and solar power sectors, etc. When asked about the future of nuclear energy, the Commissioner replied: nuclear energy plays a major role in the EU and it will stay like that. He therefore expects a rise in investment in the nuclear option; - a communication on biofuels early 2006; - from 2005 a communication on financial support systems for renewable energies in the different Member States; (3) increasing the predictability of oil markets. Mr Piebalgs plans: - as rapidly as possible to publish consolidated statistics twice monthly on security reserves in the EU; - creating, at the DG Transport and Energy, a new unit for observation of the oil and gas market; - giving priority to energy dialogue with the OPEC, Russia and Norway; - creating a Forum of fossil fuels that will meet for the first time on 20 October in Berlin; (4) increasing the supply of oil and gas (even if priority must be to promote other types of energy). Thus: - the Commission will work with the producer countries in order to encourage investment; - Commissioner Pieba lgs will meet the main European oil companies to ensure that the Commission and these companies fully play their roles; (5) promptly react to emergency situations when it comes to oil stocks. The Commission will meet the group for the provision of Community oil on a regular basis in coming months and has convened a first meeting already, on 9 November. The question will be discussed during the fossil fuel forum in Berlin with a view to presenting a revised proposal on a form of coordination for European oil stocks in 2006.