The new Green Paper on a "secure, competitive and sustainable energy policy for Europe" will try to make the case for greater integration and cooperation of EU energy policies.
In a draft version seen by EurActiv, the paper identifies 5 "headline goals":
- to speak with one voice on strategic energy issues;
- to diversify the mix of primary energy resources;
- to become the world's most energy-efficient region;
- to become the world leader in low carbon energy research and development;
- to complete the internal energy market by 2007.
The paper proposes six priority areas that should lead to the development of a "reinvigorated European Energy Policy":
- a common European external policy for security of energy supply, including eg the creation of a High Level Council Strategic Energy Policy group, and improving the use of the EU's energy dialogues (such as with OPEC and Russia). The paper also proposes to have an annual Commission communication on the security of EU energy supplies and the create a "wider-Europe Energy Community".
- a common European internal policy for security of energy supply, including the idea of setting up a European Energy Supply Observatory (to identify shortfalls in terms of infrastructure and supply) and a European Centre for Energy Networks (to coordinate and improve transmission systems).
- increase the use of clean and indigenous energy sources, including new initiatives to stimulate the uptake of renewables.
- a strategic plan for European clean energy technologies.
- Europe-wide action on energy efficiency.
- completing the internal European electricity and gas markets by 2007, including the idea for a Strategic European Internal Energy Market Plan and ideas to develop a single European grid.
It is questionable how far member states will be willing to follow the Commission in its ideas to "Europeanise" their energy policies. As recently demonstrated in the merger battles over Gaz de France and Suez or Spanish Endesa and German E-On, national governments are very sensitive when it comes to giving up some of their "crown jewels" or transferring sovereignty to the European Union.
It seems significant that, parallel to the Commission's writing of the Green Paper, the Council's Energy Working Group has been preparing a "New Energy Policy" which focuses heavily on issues of energy supply but is quite thin on new actions.
