Brussels, 19/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 16 June in Riga at the Energy Cooperation Conference in the Baltic Sea Region, energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs highlighted the advantages the European Union could gain from strengthening energy cooperation between countries of the Baltic region and called for them to get more involved in building Europe's common energy future. Addressing 120 participants Piebalgs declared, “The Baltic region has a potential to become one of the most integrated regions in the EU. It is vital for partnership between EU and third countries, especially in talks with Russia, the debate on the new European energy policy and building of the common European energy market”. MEPs, the president of the European Parliament's ITRE committee, Giles Chichester, (EPP-ED, United Kingdom) and Guntars Krasts (UEN Latvia) opened the conference, attended by national MPs, Commission experts and representatives from the European energy industry who all came to discuss development of the energy sector in the Baltic region, as well as questions linked to security of supply and cooperation between governments and the private sector. The Commissioner for energy welcomed the initiatives aimed at developing energy cooperation in the Baltic region via the Baltic Sea Region Energy Cooperation (BASREC) initiative, as well as the EU Northern Dimension and the EU energy dialogue with Russia. Although he acknowledged the important contribution made by Baltic Sea countries to the debate on common energy policy and security of supply, Piebalgs also called for these countries to get themselves immersed in European actions, notably initiatives focusing on energy efficiency, greater promotion of renewable energies and technological development.
European Parliament Plenary Session