Brussels, 19/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - At an informal lunch concluding the Energy Council in Brussels on Thursday 19 February, ministers and Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs discussed the chapter devoted to energy infrastructure projects in the European economic recovery plan proposed by the European Commission on 28 January (see EUROPE 9828). Discussion focused on the authorising criteria suggested by the Commission in the draft regulation establishing an aid programme for economic recovery through Community financial assistance to energy projects and on how well the proposed projects met the criteria. Czech Industry Minister and President in office of the Council Martin Øiman said that discussion centred on “the essence of the proposal, the projects to be selected, and not on resources”. “There was no horse trading, but an in-depth discussion to see if funds should be devoted to gas, or to carbon capture and storage. We did not discuss who wanted €10 million more or less,” he said, stating that the issue of resources is not within the remit of energy ministers. “Each country could have said it had projects which use up all the funding for energy projects. The money has to be shared out fairly, logically and according to certain criteria,” Øiman told press. “We discussed the criteria and the geographical balance, but we did not negotiate the list,” said Piebalgs, confirming that discussion was based on a new version of the list discussed the previous day in the Coreper, and containing some minor changes. “The overwhelming majority of energy ministers expressed their agreement. It will be for foreign ministers to bring confirmation on Monday,” Øiman added. According to a Community source, Portugal is “very unhappy”, and Germany and Cyprus “rather confused”. Italy, which was loud in its complaints last week, would appear to have been satisfied by the new version of the list which grants it additional funding for the Galsi gas interconnection between Algeria and Sardinia, and a carbon capture and storage project. Øiman denied that Berlin had brought any pressure for the controversial gas pipeline under the Baltic to feature on the list. (E.H./transl.rt)