Brussels, 04/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - In an extension of the discussions of the Energy Council of 15 February (see EUROPE 9367) and the March European Council (see EUROPE 9383), the internal gas and electricity market and the issue of separation of energy operators' production and network activities (unbundling) will again be at the heart of the debate at the meeting of Energy Ministers in Luxemburg on Wednesday. Under the chairmanship of German Economy Minister Michael Glos, the Energy Council will also devote a large part of its time to international energy relations.
Internal market. Energy Ministers will hold a policy debate informed by three communications brought forward by the Commission in January as part of the energy and climate change package (on the prospects for the internal gas and electricity market, DG Competition's sectoral investigation and the priority interconnection plan respectively, see EUROPE 9341) and a questionnaire drawn up by the German presidency. The presidency suggests concentrating on four central issues: effective unbundling; the effectiveness of regulation; adequacy of investment in infrastructure; and cooperation among transport network managers, in order to better coordinate the operation of the networks and their security - an issue the Commission intends, as it was asked to do by the March European Council in its Energy Action Plan for 2007-2009, to consider within the framework of the third legislative package, which it could table in September.
External relations. A very full agenda on this subject awaits Energy Ministers. The German presidency and the Commission will inform the Council of the results of the EU-US Summit which produced out a joint declaration on energy security and climate change (see EUROPE 9418) and the latest developments in relations with Russia - restructuring the energy dialogue (see EUROPE 9416) and crisis warning mechanism (see EUROPE 9417). The presidency and the Commission will also inform the Council of the outcome of the EU-OPEC round table discussions of 30 May (see EUROPE 9437) prior to a 4th ministerial meeting in Vienna on 21 June, the outcomes of three international conferences on energy efficiency (including the one in Berlin on 20-21 April to prepare for the G8 Summit) and the latest developments in the Energy Community, whose second ministerial council will be held in Montenegro on 29 June. EU-Africa and EuroMed energy cooperation, the network of energy correspondents and international cooperation in biofuels are also on the agenda. (eh)