Energy Council: 22-23 November

MEMO/06/442

Brussels, 22 November 2006

Dinner

At the dinner that will take place on the 22 November, Ministers will discuss, in the light of the outcome of the Green Paper consultation, the energy mix in the EU. To this extent, Ministers will be called to share their views on:

Possible measures that could be supported in order to achieve an energy mix that best contributes to the shared objectives of security of supply, competitiveness and sustainability; The kinds of conclusions Member States want the March 2007 European Council to draw on the issue of the energy mix.

Energy Policy for Europe

Sustainability of energy production and consumption: Promoting Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Commissioner Piebalgs will make a presentation of the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency “Realising the Potential”. This action plan was adopted on 19 October 2005, after the extensive public consultation that took place following the publication of the Commission's 2005 Green Paper on Energy Efficiency. It was presented in response to a request formulated by the March 2006 European Council. The Presidency has foreseen holding a policy debate on the sustainability of energy production and consumption. In this context Ministers will also have the opportunity to address questions relating to the renewable energy sources.

It is then foreseen to adopt the Council conclusions on the Action Plan.

Any other business

International relations in the field of energy:

EU-Russia

Commissioner Piebalgs will communicate on the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue and the conclusions of the Lahti Summit. He will also inform about the conclusions of the 5th year of joint cooperation building on the reports of the four thematic groups set up to focus on the areas of infrastructure, investment, trade and energy efficiency. The reports set out a series of recommendations designed to enhance practical cooperation in the energy sector which will be discussed on the occasion of the forthcoming Permanent Partnership Council on Energy.

For more information: IP/06/1486

Energy Community Treaty

Commissioner Piebalgs will inform on the outcome of the Ministerial meeting of the Energy Community held in Skopje on 17 November. This was the first meeting of the Energy Ministers of the Energy Community, after the entry into force of its founding treaty. The Ministerial Council reiterated the commitment of all the Parties towards market reforms and agreed upon concrete national roadmaps – outlining the current status, the coming tasks and the responsible institutions of each country - for the development of the energy market. Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova and Norway were admitted to the Energy Community as Observers at that meeting.

For more information: IP/06/1579

For more information: IP/06/1580

Energy Charter

Commissioner Piebalgs will inform Ministers on the political developments in the Charter process, including in the annual Energy Charter Conference of 20 November 2006. The Commission has the intention of continuing to work towards ratification of the Energy Charter Treaty by the Russian Federation.

Other cooperation with third countries

Commissioner Piebalgs will inform Ministers of the latest developments on the following topics Euromed Energy Cooperation, progress on the "Baku Initiative", developing countries, relations with the United States and China etc.

Energy Star

The Presidency decided to postpone the adoption of the proposal for the Council Decision on the conclusion of the new Energy Star Agreement, in order to wait for the nomination of the EP rapporteur on the recast of the Regulation, in order to informally discuss with the rappoteur the Energy Star package. According to the Presidency, after this consultation, the Decision could be adopted at the beginning of 2007.

Information from the Commission Services on the state of play of the ongoing review of the Community guidelines on the state aid for environmental protection

In order to answer to the request from Cyprus, Ms Kroes confirms that at present, no revision of the existing guidelines has been adopted. At the beginning of 2007, she will inform Member States on the content of the review of the Community guidelines.

Information from the Commission on electricity blackouts on 4 November 2006

At the request of the Dutch delegation, the Commissioner will provide information on the electricity blackouts that happened on 4 November, a serious incident on the continental European electricity network. After the blackout, Commissioner Piebalgs stated that "whilst these blackouts lasted for relatively short periods of time, they are unacceptable. The EU needs an internal market based on the very highest levels of system security. These incidents show, once again, that events in one part of Europe impact on other parts and again confirm the need for a proper European energy policy. Energy security is better delivered through a common European approach rather than 27 different approaches”. Commissioner Piebalgs asked for an investigation by the responsible authority which is underway. He will announce his intention to propose to the College in the Energy Package in January: (1) that a formal European grouping of Transmission System Operators be created at EU level; (2) to institute a mechanism to ensure that these standards are formally binding on network operators, and (3) to propose a European Priority Interconnection Plan.

For more information: IP/06/1514