MEPs want to keep Russia's European ambitions in line[de] 

MEPs in the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a draft resolution on Monday evening (3 September), calling on the EU to make Russian accession to the WTO dependant on Russia's ratification of the Energy Charter Treaty  (ECT), which stipulates that "Contracting Parties must promote and create stable, favourable and transparent conditions for foreign investors".

European energy companies have long complained of limited access and unfair treatment in their operations in Russia, which has so far refused to sign the Charter.  

Voting on the draft resolution, MEPs also adopted an amendment in support of the Commission's "intention to take appropriate measures to prevent uncontrolled investment of state-owned foreign companies in the EU's energy sector, in particular, the gas and electricity transmission networks" (EurActiv 30/08/07).

The issue of foreign access to EU energy markets is also likely to be used as an argument against forcing the break-up of large EU energy firms, who argue they are in the best position to maintain European ownership of transmission grids and to negotiate stable supply contracts with foreign energy suppliers (EurActiv 04/09/07 and 03/09/07). 

MEPs support the creation of a common European foreign policy on energy, "covering security of supply, transit and investment" to be included in the EU Treaties, whereby the Commission is given "institutional competence to negotiate EU framework agreements with third countries concerning energy supply".

The parliamentarians are also calling for the appointment of a new "High Official on Foreign Energy Policy" who would coordinate "all policies under the scope of the common European foreign policy on energy, thereby contributing to the EU's ability to protect its energy security interests in negotiating with the EU's external partners".

A High Official backed by stronger Commission powers on international energy markets might help "to actively counteract any oligopolistic tendencies, such as the danger of the creation of a gas cartel", according to the draft report.

There has been some speculation in the international press about the creation of an OPEC-style Russia-Iran gas cartel, following comments earlier this year by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who called it an "interesting idea".