Brussels, 24/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - On the sidelines of the 2nd International Biofuels Conference, on Friday 21 November in Sao Paulo (EUROPE 9787), European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs met Brazil's Energy Minister Edison Lobão, for a first working meeting within the framework of the EU/Brazil energy dialogue launched in July 2007. With a view to the bilateral summit end December in Rio, European and Brazilian officials for energy issues confirmed the commitment taken by the EU and Brazil to set in place a constructive form of cooperation and partnership on energy matters to ensure the viability and reliability of energy supplies. Messrs Piebalgs and Lobão briefed each other on the latest initiatives taken in their countries on energy matters and also on international trends and prospects. Mr Piebalgs described the broad lines of the energy security and solidarity package proposed mid-November (EUROPE 9782) while his Brazilian opposite number briefed him on developments in the Brazilian energy sector, new “pre salt” oilfields at sea and the constant development of the ethanol and biodiesel sectors in the country. Both men also agreed on policies and priorities for energy cooperation between the EU and Brazil, the 2009 programme being based on four areas of cooperation: - exchange of best practice and technical consultation on regulatory issues for competitive energy markets, including investment opportunities; - energy efficiency and demand management, in particular through the participation at the multilateral International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) launched by the G8 plus China, South Korea and India; - joint research efforts in second generation biofuels; - promotion of EU-Brazil industrial cooperation on low carbon technologies, including clean coal, as well as research on nuclear energy and cooperation on nuclear safety. These issues will be the subject of bilateral technical consultation in coming weeks. Finally, Messrs Piebalgs and Lobão confirmed their support for efforts to pursue cooperation on the viability of biofuels and to promote scientific studies and technological innovations aimed at ensuring long term viability for the production of bioenergy. (E.H./transl.jl)