Brussels, 30/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy Åslaug Haga met in Brussels on Thursday 29 May 2008 to exchange views on various energy related issues of mutual interest. Particular emphasis was placed on bilateral cooperation, liberalisation of the energy markets, and giving priority to renewable energy. Both sides committed to promoting carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.
Ms Haga and Mr Piebalgs discussed progress in their collaboration in carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects and reaffirmed their interest in furthering their cooperation in this field. Norway's 3 CCS projects may be defined as part of the 12 projects that the EU intends to develop in order to prove the viability of this technology.
Under existing cooperation on renewable energy between the EU and Norway, Commissioner Piebalgs and Minister Haga agreed to look into future cooperation in offshore wind developments. A proposal for such cooperation will be worked out, based on common interest in the visions for offshore wind developments. Piebalgs also outlined the progress of the EU's third internal energy market package and welcomed Norway's participation in this. Norway is the EU's second most important supplier of oil and gas - gas imports from Norway are expected to reach 100 billion cubic metres this year. The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on international energy issues. (O.L.)