The 25 European government heads meeting Mar. 24-25 in Brussels agreed to adopt a plan for a transparent and better-integrated single energy market, but they identified few specific targets, deadlines, or clear data on gas storage capacities and oil stocks.
Key elements of the EU Commission’s “green paper on energy”-such as a single European regulator for the new gas and electricity market and a strategic EU oil and gas stocks management plan-also were not discussed (OGJ, Mar. 20, 2006, p. 33).
Participants agreed to develop a common external policy approach to energy security, however, and to conduct further dialogues among EU members and their primary partners-producers and transit or consumer countries-“in synergy with relevant international organizations.”
They especially wanted to make the EU-Russia dialogue more effective through Russia’s ratification of the Energy Charter and the conclusion of a transit protocol during Russia’s current G8 presidency. Javier Solana, the EU’s high representative, will offer proposals for the June summit.
Summit representatives advocated greater diversification of indigenous sources, suppliers, and transport routes “supported by investments in the necessary infrastructure, including LNG facilities.” Energy source diversification programs would have renewables accounting for 15% of EU energy consumption by 2015 and biofuels, 8%. And, to accommodate the controversial nuclear option, the summit indicated that it “respects member states’ sovereignty over primary energy sources and choice of energy mix.”
It also called for improved transborder regional trade through better electricity and gas interconnections following the “complete opening of the internal market for all consumers by 2007.”
The EU Commission will submit to members a plan to reduce energy consumption by 20% before 2020.
It approved the Commission’s proposal for a regular strategic energy review, starting in 2007, covering “aims and actions” needed for a medium and long-term external energy policy.
Discussions will start before yearend, and actions to initiate a long-term supply and demand analysis-“with a clear timetable”-should be ready for the European Council’s 2007 spring session.
While the Commission is invited to start preparing the more urgent measures to move towards a common energy policy, some government leaders, including Germany’s Angela Merkel, said this did not mean the Commission’s brief was being broadened, especially in matters of external policy.
“The Commission was not seeking new powers,” Commission President José Manuel Barroso replied at the final press conference.✦
