Energy Said to Be Focus of New European Commission
Energy will be the main focus of the new European Commission, according to a recent memo from Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs. "Energy is one of the key sectors of the European economy, vital to competitiveness, essential to meeting Europe's Kyoto [Treaty on Climate Change] obligations, and a major factor in terms of security," Piebalgs said. Piebalgs, from Latvia, considers the next 5 years a "watershed period" for energy policy because he believes oil and gas prices will remain high, Europe must continue to support Kyoto efforts, China and India will continue to grow, and the EU will become increasingly dependent on external energy suppliers. The commission began a S-year term last November.
Six priorities
Piebalgs identified six priorities building on energy security efforts of the previous commission in 2O00. They involve:
* Increasing energy efficiency to reach an "achievable target" by 2010 to save 70 million tonnes/year of oil, saving 1 5 billion euros/ year.
* A reduction of about 140 million tonnes/year of carbon dioxide and a significant reduction in terms of external supply dependence compared to 2004-equivalent to about 4% of oil imports.
* Achieving "a properly functioning" gas and electricity internal market.
* To "do better" in promoting renewable resources of energy so as to reach the fixed objective of 12% of overall energy consumption by 2010. This priority includes promoting development of biofuels.
* Strengthening nuclear safety and security while member countries are having second thoughts about the need for nuclear electricity.
* Improving links between energy policies and environmental research policies, particularly in the areas of energy efficiency and renewables, clean coal technologies, and nuclear waste management.
The trends for the EU's energy imports "have not been reversed" since the security of Supply Green Paper was published in 2000. Instead, Europe is expected by 2010 to become 90% dependent on oil imports, 70% on gas imports, and 100% on coal imports.
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