IP/06/1242
Brussels, 22 September 2006
Have your say! Public hearing on energy policy The European Commission is today hosting a public hearing on the European Union's energy policy. The aim of this initiative, organised in accordance with the wishes of the March 2006 European Council, is to analyse current EU policy in the energy field from a strategic point of view. The results of this analysis will be used to draw up an action plan in the next few months. Talking about the hearing, the European Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, stressed that "Europe’s current energy situation is no longer tenable and it is necessary to provide the EU with a genuine energy policy". "But,” he added, “all interested parties have to contribute to this future policy if it is to be a success.”
The meeting, with almost 600 participants, is structured around two discussion panels, on the energy mix and the internal energy market. Participants from very different backgrounds (national administrations, the European Parliament, international organisations, industry, etc.) have an opportunity to present what they believe should appear in the strategic analysis.
Based on the Green Paper "A European strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy"[1], the strategic analysis and action plan are to be adopted by the Commission in January 2007. This strategic analysis is the first of its kind, and will be repeated at regular intervals.
More info:
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/green-paper-energy/index_en.htm
The results of the hearing will be published shortly.
[1] COM(2006) 105 final of 8 March 2006.
