IP/06/1578
Brussels, 17 November 2006
EU energy actors meet to discuss an external energy security policy On 20 and 21 November, the European Commission will bring together in Brussels main influential players in the energy sector to discuss EU external energy policy and how to assure a high level of supply security. Representatives from the Commission, Member States, key third countries, the industry and international organisations will debate during two days the external aspects of European policies on energy matters focusing on oil and natural gas security supplies issues as well as trade and development related topics. Among others, Commission President Barroso, Commissioners Ferrero-Waldner, Piebalgs, Mandelson and Michel, SGHR Solana and around 30 Ministers of External Relations or Energy from EU Member States and third countries will participate. The debates will be summed up Commissioners Ferrero-Waldner and Piebalgs on Tuesday 21 November at 12:30. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, said: “It is in all our interest that we maximise co-ordination in the external area and speak with one voice. As a Union we are a major customer for suppliers and as consumers we have considerable purchasing power. We should ensure that we work together to get the best deal and the strongest energy security for all Europeans.”
Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, said “The European Union and its external partners need to work together for the extension of our energy market beyond the EU borders. This conference will be an important step towards this goal”.
Debates at the conference will include: “Towards a coherent and co-ordinated external energy policy”; “External projection of the EU internal energy market”; “Challenges for the supply of hydrocarbons”; “Energy and international trade”; and “Energy and development”.
Europe has over 50% dependency on energy imports from third countries and this is expected to grow to over 70% in the next 15 years. In an environment of strongly growing global energy demand, a coherent and co-ordinated external policy for energy in Europe, and a wide range of suppliers are imperative to ensure energy security.
The EU has lately taken major steps forward to develop strategies internally and externally to improve energy efficiency and to increase co-operation with other major energy producing, transit and consuming countries in order to maximise energy security.
The European Neighbourhood Policy is a key instrument for building closer co-operation with EU energy suppliers in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, and the Mediterranean. This policy has the potential to create the right framework to promote their integration with Europe’s energy market and to create the right legal environment for a fruitful and secure cooperation.
Energy issues were highlighted in the Green Paper on “A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy”, issued by the Commission in March 2006, and have already been discussed several times by the European Council including by the EU Heads of States and Governments during their informal meeting in Lahti on 20 October 2006. Note for the Press: The Conference "Towards an EU External Energy Policy to Assure a High Level of Supply Security" (Brussels 20-21 November 2006, Charlemagne building) opens on Monday 20 at 9:30 and it is open to the press. Journalists wanting to attend are advised to arrive well in advance. Please bring your accreditation with you! For the complete programme:
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/energy/energy_conference_2006/index.htm
