Brussels, 19/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - Following the Energy Council of 9 December (see EUROPE 9799), European energy ministers, meeting in Brussels on 19 February, adopted conclusions expressing their support for the 2nd strategic analysis of energy policy and the energy security and solidarity action plan proposed by the Commission in November (see EUROPE 9782), and defining short- and long-term priorities. In the short term, the Council approved the six infrastructure priorities for action proposed by the Commission: the South-European gas corridor, the Baltic interconnection plan, the offshore wind farm network in the North Sea, the Mediterranean energy ring linking the EU to North Africa, integration of the electricity and gas systems of Central and South-East Europe and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) strategy. The Council noted, too, that transparency should be improved and investment in gas storage encouraged, and also that the EU and its member states should be consistent in their dialogue with supplier, transit and consumer countries. In the long term, the Council called for work to begin immediately on drawing up a political agenda for 2030 and a project for 2050, which should focus principally on efficient, low carbon energy systems, use of carbon capture and storage technologies and development of projects in this area and in the development of electric vehicles, hydrogen fuels and substitute fuels. To meet these priorities, the Commission was asked to determine the legislative and non-legislative measures required and the appropriate funding resources, to present a new European instrument for energy security and infrastructure, and to work with the EIB on a joint project for funding sustainable energy. (E.H./transl.rt)