Brussels, 22/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - Under the chairmanship of Finnish trade and industry minister Mauri Pekkarinen, energy ministers will give over a large part of their meeting on 23 November to discussion of the energy efficiency action plan. The Energy Council was preceded on Wednesday evening by an informal dinner at which, with the forthcoming strategic analysis of the EU energy policy, the Commission will publish in January, and the European Council of March 2007, the issue of the EU's energy mix was discussed.
Energy policy for Europe. The Council will adopt conclusions in response to the energy efficiency action plan, adopted by the Commission on 19 October (see EUROPE 9290), the main strands of which Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs will recall for ministers. The Council conclusions will present the EU25 position on the main principles and priorities for implementing the raft of measures proposed by the Commission and will provide recommendations for removing the obstacles to improved energy efficiency. Ministers will then hold a public debate on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
International relations. On the eve of the EU-Russia Summit which could see the start of negotiations on a bilateral partnership and cooperation agreement, which is due to contain a large energy section, the Council will take stock of the latest developments in bilateral energy relations. Mr Piebalgs will present the reports of the four working groups on the issues underlying the EU-Russia energy dialogue, reports which will be discussed at the next EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council on Energy. Ratification of the Energy Charter by Moscow will also be discussed. Mr Piebalgs will also inform the Council of the outcome of the 1st ministerial meeting of the Energy Community (see EUROPE 9309), in Skopje this week. Finally, the Finnish Presidency and the Commission will inform the Council about the situation on the new Euro-American “Energy star” agreement.
In addition the Commission will, at the request of the Netherlands, take stock of the investigation on the causes of the massive power cut on 4 November (EUROPE 9300 and 9308), and at the request of Cyprus, of the review of guidelines on state aid for environmental protection. (eh)