Brussels, 07/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - Three months after the Russo-Ukrainian gas dispute, which confirmed EU vulnerability in terms of energy supply and in the middle of a wave of mergers in the gas and electricity markets, the Commission was due, on 8 March, to adopt its Green Paper on energy, entitled “Secure, Competitive and Sustainable Energy”, laying the foundations for a future energy policy for Europe. Recommending a common external energy policy, allowing the EU to speak with one voice on the international stage and diversification of energy supply to guarantee security, and giving priority to solidarity in cases of shortage, to climate policy, to innovation, to the proper functioning of the internal energy market and to the promotion of clean energy, the Commission's strategy calls on the 25 to create a common energy policy. After the meeting of Energy Ministers on 14 March, EU Heads of State and of Government are due to debate the issue at the Spring Summit on 23 and 24 March.
By trying to show sensitivity towards national concerns, the new Commission strategy is based on three pillars, which act also as priorities: securing supply, ensuring the competitiveness of European companies and limiting the impact on the environment. To respond to present and future challenges, the Commission suggests a number of courses of action. Firstly, by developing a coherent external policy: the Commission suggests developing a number of dialogues, which have already been started with suppliers: OPEC (especially since the relaunch of the bilateral dialogue in June then December 2005), Russia, Norway, Ukraine (a transit country), the Caucasus and the Mediterranean countries. Alongside the neighbourhood policy, the Commission might suggest the creation of a pan-European energy community, based on the Energy Community set up on 25 October 2005 (see EUROPE 9052). Secondly, by modifying the EU's energy mix: to modify the current trend (if no measures are taken, by 2030, almost 70% of the EU's energy will come from outside its borders, compared with 50% today), the Commission suggests changes to the mix. But it wisely points out that each Member State has the right to make its own choices, before stressing that these choices will inevitably have an impact on the energy policy of the others. The Commission, then, will probably suggest a debate, ensuring greater transparency and information on national policies, the choices and decisions of each Member State. The publication of an annual report examining the advantages and disadvantages of every energy source, including nuclear, could be part of this approach. The Commission could also suggest a transparent and objective debate on the future role of nuclear energy in the EU for those Member States which wish to follow this option, while paying particular attention to questions of safety and treatment of radioactive waste. Thirdly, by ensuring greater solidarity between Member States in times of shortage: the Commission suggests putting in place a European Observatory on Energy Supply charged with improving the transparency of information on EU energy supply and preventing incidents. The Commission might also propose a review of existing legislation in the fields of oil and gas to create a solidarity mechanism (a minimum amount of gas stored by each Member State, similar to the 90-day consumption stock already in place for oil, could be possible). Fourthly, by ensuring that the internal gas and electricity markets work better: an investigation by DG Competition has confirmed that there are serious dysfunctions (se EUROPE 9133) and on 1st July 2007, every European consumer will have to choose his/her gas and electricity supplier. The Commission might propose reinforcing coordination between regulators. It could also suggest setting up a European Centre for Energy Networks to improve the safety of networks through information exchange between network managers. Fifthly, by stressing the importance of clean and environmentally friendly energy and strengthening the fight against climate change: the Commission suggests drawing up a road map on targets to be met, which takes account of all the lines currently explored - biofuels, biomass, off-shore wind farms, production of heating and cooling from renewable sources for green energy, and capture and storage of carbon for clean energy. On climate change, the Commission could suggest extending at international level (especially within the G-8) its action plan on energy efficiency to produce an international agreement. Finally, by promoting technological innovation, through a strategic plan for energy technologies in Europe which would contain a section on “promising technologies” (clean coal, hydrogen, carbon capture) and a section supporting marketing through technology platforms (biofuels, hydrogen, photovoltaics, clean coal and nuclear waste).