Brussels, 10/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - By agreeing to the setting up of the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation, energy ministers from the G8 (Germany, Canada, US, France, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and Russia) in addition to three of the main Asian powers (China, South Korea and India) met up on 8 June in Aomori. At the meeting they provided an essential response to the question of how to tackle energy consumption in the face of continued rising prices (EUROPE 9678). The initiative was first put forward by the European Commission in the EU Energy Efficiency Action Plan of October 2006 (EUROPE 9290). This partnership will include a forum for exchanging best practices at the International Energy Agency (IEA) based in Paris. The Commission stressed that it would become “a high level, open, broad and inclusive partnership of the nations seeking to maximise the benefits of energy efficiency through voluntary cooperation”. This partnership will work in the area of global standards to encourage green public procurement and promote efficient regulatory frameworks for energy efficiency. Its goal, however, is not the development and formal adoption of standards or efficiency targets at the G8 or at a world level. Its members are free to choose areas of interest on a voluntary basis. The EU will pay an initial contribution of €400 000 and the US and Japan will make similar contributions. The International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation will be based on the following activities: development of national indicators for energy efficiency, exchange of best practices and the collection of national data; exchange of information on measures to improve energy efficiency, such as standards for construction and energy-intensive products and services, audits, certification, investment, public procurement, information for consumers and stakeholders; the promotion of joint R&D in technologies for energy efficiency, particularly for developing countries and the distribution of energy efficient products and services. (E.H.)