Brussels, 30/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Energy Council will meet on 3 December in Brussels under the leadership of the Portuguese minister for the economy Manuel Pinho to discuss energy technologies and to evaluate the state of play on the 3rd legislative package for the internal energy market.
“SET” Plan. The energy ministers will hold a debate on the strategic plan for energy technologies presented by the Commission on 22 November (EUROPE 9539 and 9549). Their discussions will be supported by a Portuguese Presidency questionnaire focussing on the need to step up technological developments, investment in R&D, governance and international cooperation.
Internal energy market. On the basis of a report drawn up by the presidency, the ministers will asses the state of play on the 3rd legislative package for the liberalisation of the internal gas and electricity market tabled by the Commission on 19 September (EUROPE 9505). At this stage, the work of the Energy Council group is focussed on the general principles of the directive on the internal gas and electricity market and a regulation establishing a regulatory agency. The presidency's report contains the principles and provisions which gather wide support from the member states and raises the issues which require further discussions, on the following themes: separation of activities by energy operators, planning investments, infrastructures, the regulatory regime for cross-border issues, regional cooperation and solidarity, the functioning of the market, regulation competences and the regulatory agency.
International relations. The Council will look at the results of the EU-Brazil summit of 4 July in Lisbon (an energy dialogue will be launched at the beginning of 2008) and the EU-Russia summit of 26 October in Mafra, as well as the preparations for the EU-Africa summit on 8- 9 December in Lisbon (where an energy partnership will be launched) and the Energy Community Ministerial Council to be held on 18 December in Belgrade. (E.H.)