Brussels, 10/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - True to the principal of sustainable development, Austria is pursuing an energy policy which aims to optimise energy and raw material supply while keeping an eye firmly on distribution networks, cost efficiency and environmental and social sustainability. On the energy policy front, the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU will continue the work and discussions already in progress at Community level in five main areas:
internal electricity and gas markets The Austrian Presidency will look to examine ways of improving the operation of the internal energy market (the Commission's last report on this subject drew attention to serious problems: see EUROPE 9068) and to take measures to supplement the two sets of legislative measures already adopted on liberalisation of the electricity and gas markets;
security of supply Work will be taken forward on the basis of the Commission's forthcoming Green Paper on security of supply and cooperation with Union supplier countries, following the 2000 Green Paper on energy policy. The Austrian Presidency will also seek to finalise the decision on trans-European energy networks, where there is already a political agreement on a joint Council position, which has top go to a second reading before Parliament;
sustainability of energy production and consumption Here, action will proceed along two lines: on the one hand, improving energy efficiency (the Council under Austrian Presidency has to ratify the Parliament's vote on the second reading of the Directive on end-use energy efficiency and energy services, of 13 December last, following a compromise after discussions between the Council, Parliament and Commission on 30 November); and on the other, the promotion of electricity from renewable sources (Council work will be based on the biomass action plan and the report on support for the production of electricity from renewable sources, both adopted on 7 December last: see EUROPE 9084 and 9105).
International dimension The Austrian Presidency is seeking to enhance energy dialogue with third countries, and particularly with OPEC and Russia, and review and update the energy and nuclear safety chapters of the Northern Dimension. It also wishes to give priority to establishing an energy community, whose permanent secretariat is in Vienna (see EUROPE 9052), following signature on 25 October 2005 and involving, for the moment, 10 South-East European countries.
nuclear questions Given the importance that it attaches to nuclear safety and adequate safeguards, the Austrian Presidency will seek to put into practice the conclusions on nuclear safety and nuclear waste management adopted by the Council on 28 June 2004. It will also seek a satisfactory response to questions linked to the definition of a new approach to nuclear safeguards clarifying the respective roles of Euratom, the Member States and the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA), based in Vienna.
Austria will also chair the European Spring Summit during which Heads of State and of Government will, working from a document produced by the Commission, debate putting in place a common energy policy.
On 16 March, Vienna will host a conference entitled Energy paths, horizon 2050, organised along with the Austrian Transport, Innovation and Technology Ministry, to debate the possible options for sustainable energy supply by 2050 with particular emphasis on the technological choices which will have to be taken in this area.