Facts-Info-Issues on EU Presidencies Energy Policies (EEF/FEE)

The following texts are extracted from the Member States' website dedicated to the EU Presidency.

Political agreement has already been achieved on a common Council position. It seems probable that agreement will be reached with the European Parliament on second reading. The concluding steps may occur during the Austrian Presidency.

The implementation of an open, fiercely competitive internal market for energy gives rise to the necessity to expand the required infrastructure for energy networks EU-wide. The European Parliament and the Council have therefore adopted guidelines for trans-European energy networks and identified projects for electricity and natural gas pipelines of common European interest. As a result of the accession of 10 new Member States, these guidelines for trans-European networks need to be amended, taking particular account of the situation of the accession countries, and provision for financing projects of common European interest. The proposal for new guidelines contains projects of European interest whose implementation would make an important contribution to an efficient and appropriately structured energy network, and contribute to the security of supply for the whole of Europe, as well as the further development of the European internal market. Agreement now needs to be reached quickly with the European Parliament.

The European Commission will analyse the reports from the Member States and submit a summary report to the European Parliament and the Council by 31 December 2005 on the implementation of the directive in question.

The report will highlight progress in internalising the external costs of electricity generated from non-renewable energy sources and the impact of public subsidies on electricity generation. It will also discuss Member States’ prospects of achieving the national indicative targets set in the directive, the global indicative target and any unequal treatment of energy sources.

The reports provided for in the directives mentioned above, which have to contain a detailed presentation of progress in creating the internal market for electricity and natural gas, have to be submitted by the European Commission to the European Parliament and the Council by 1 January 2006 at the latest.

Political agreement on a common position has already been reached. Efforts will be made to achieve an agreement with the European Parliament (EP) on second reading under the UK Presidency, but so far the positions of the Commission and the EP on the one hand and the Council on the other are widely divergent. Work on the proposed legal act may therefore continue into the Austrian Presidency.

The European Commission's Biomass Action Plan (BAP) is intended to contribute to ensuring that the quantities of biomass required to achieve the EU’s overall target for a doubling of the share of renewable energy sources in primary energy consumption, from the current approximately six per cent to twelve per cent by 2010, are actually mobilised.

The Biomass Action Plan will take the form of a Communication to the European Parliament and the Council and contain recommendations for measures to increase biomass use for energy purposes in the EU 25.

The Green Paper on energy efficiency was submitted by the Commission at the end of June 2005.

In the framework of the EU's energy relations with non-member countries, the European Commission is expected to submit a Green Paper by the end of 2005 on security of supply, which will probably follow on from the issues in the 2000 Green Paper. The Commission is likely to place even greater emphasis in this paper on energy supply aspects in an overall European context, in particular cooperation with its most important supplier countries and regions, such as Russia and the Middle East.

The priorities in relation to external energy relations depend on progress made under the UK Presidency.

It is important to note, however, that Austria was granted both the temporary and permanent seat of the secretariat of this Community at the Ministerial Conference of the South East Europe Energy Community on 13 December 2004, chaired by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour (BMWA). The temporary secretariat has already taken up its duties. It will be transformed into a permanent body when an international treaty, which has already been negotiated, comes into effect as planned in 2006. This means that a fourth major international energy institution will be based in Vienna, alongside OPEC, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP).

The conference “Energy Paths - Horizon 2050” (in which the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology will participate) is scheduled to take place on 16 March 2006 in the Auersperg Palace in Vienna: at this event, options for sustainable energy supply within this time horizon will be advanced and discussed, with the focus on the necessary technology choices this implies.

Security of supply and environmental compatibility are key themes of European energy policy and also for the Austrian EU Presidency. The technology policy measures concerned include, in particular, the preparation of the Framework Programme of Research, Technological Development and Demonstration and its sub-programmes; the establishment of structures such as the technology platforms and joint technology initiatives.

The aims of the Council in this area are to ensure that the energy needs of consumers in the EU, both domestic and industrial, can be met effectively. This action is most effective at EU level because most individual Member States are not self-sufficient in energy.

Il existe de grandes différences entre les politiques nationales des États membres en matière énergétique: la France et la Finlande s’appuient majoritairement sur le nucléaire, l’Italie est pratiquement entièrement tributaire des importations, les Pays-Bas exportent des volumes considérables de gaz naturel, et au Danemark c’est le secteur de l’énergie éolienne qui est très développé. Mais, en dépit de ces différences fondamentales, tous les pays s’accordent sur l’intérêt majeur que représente l’énergie pour nos sociétés modernes.

Sans énergie, notre société et notre économie s’arrêtent carrément de fonctionner. Tout comme l’eau est indispensable à la vie humaine, l’énergie est devenue une condition de survie de la société moderne. Pour garantir un approvisionnement suffisant, durable et continu en énergie, l’Union européenne accorde donc une attention considérable aux nombreuses facettes de la production d’énergie.

Dans le cadre de l’achèvement du marché intérieur, l’UE a su mettre en place un marché libre de l’énergie. Depuis le 1er juillet 2004, la libéralisation du marché de l’énergie est acquise pour le secteur commercial et les collectivités territoriales. Elle le sera pour les particuliers à partir de 2007. Le paquet de directives destinées à ouvrir la voie à la libéralisation (les nouvelles directives sur l’électricité et le gaz et la directive relative à la taxe sur l’énergie) a été adopté depuis.

La libéralisation prévoit toutefois des limites à la concurrence: l’approvisionnement énergétique ne doit en aucun cas être mis en danger. La sécurité de l’approvisionnement énergétique est et reste donc un thème important en Europe, à plus forte raison dans un marché de l’énergie ouvert à la concurrence.

En septembre 2002, la Commission a adopté tout un ensemble de communications, de directives et de décisions. Et la politique en matière de sécurité de l’approvisionnement énergétique continue à s’étendre. C’est ainsi que la Commission a soumis, en décembre 2003, un paquet de propositions destinées à garantir la sécurité de l’approvisionnement en électricité et à renforcer l’infrastructure.

Un moyen d’augmenter la sécurité d’approvisionnement et de livraison est de stimuler l’innovation, en particulier en comparant les expériences et les possibilités respectives dans les secteurs des réseaux de transport, de télécommunication et d’énergie. Ce dossier fait donc l’objet d’une attention soutenue au niveau européen.

Dans son Livre vert de novembre 2000, intitulé "Vers une stratégie européenne de sécurité d’approvisionnement énergétique", la Commission soulignait l’importance des économies d’énergie. Si l’on considère la dépendance de l’Union européenne, par rapport aux sources d’énergie extérieures et les problèmes liés aux changements climatiques, on ne peut que conclure que les économies d’énergie restent d’actualité.

En juin 2004, la Commission européenne a publié une communication sur les énergies renouvelables, qui comprend un examen de l’avancement des travaux concernant la réalisation des objectifs ambitieux que l’UE s’est fixés, en 2001, en matière d’énergie durable à l’horizon 2010.

La Commission a fait des propositions en vue de l’adoption d’un plan d’action international pour la biomasse et pour la promotion de la recherche et développement. De plus, le Conseil accordera une attention soutenue aux possibilités d’intensifier de façon structurelle le développement, la coopération et l’échange d’informations en matière d’énergie durable au sein de l’UE.

Dans le cadre du débat sur la sécurité d’approvisionnement, le Conseil a adopté, en décembre 2003, des conclusions sur la coopération avec les pays voisins en matière d’énergie, de transport d’énergie et de marché énergétique. Il s’agit notamment d’intensifier la coopération avec les pays limitrophes de l’UE dans le domaine des infrastructures d’énergie et de la politique énergétique, de la coopération euro-méditerranéenne, de la mise en place d’une politique d’extension du marché intérieur de l’énergie aux pays du sud-est de l’Europe et du dialogue entre l’UE et la Russie.

The national energy policies of the Member States vary greatly from one country to the next. Thus, for example, France relies heavily on nuclear energy, Italy depends almost entirely on imports and the Netherlands exports a considerable amount of natural gas.

As part of the internal market, the European Union wishes to establish a free energy market. The main principle in this regard is that the only limits on competition are where it threatens the security of the energy supply. In anticipation of the internal energy market, the Commission is working towards the establishment of trans-European energy networks. For this purpose, Member States must improve the connectivity of their national gas and electricity networks.

The electricity market in the European Union is characterised by exclusive rights and pseudo-monopolies. At the end of 1996, the Council approved a directive on the internal electricity market, which will be gradually opened up over a period of six years. For most Member States, the first phase began on 19 February 1999. Initially, 23% of the market will be opened up, increasing to 33% in the sixth year.

In April 2002, the Commission proposed an energy action programme for 2003-2006. This programme has a budget of 215 million euros and prioritises the promotion of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. In future, the main emphasis will be on reducing and changing the demand for energy, rather than on changes to the supply side of the energy market. There is no longer any room for improvements in the field of energy production.

In April 2000, the Commission presented a European action plan to improve energy efficiency, stating that energy consumption can be reduced by approximately 18% by means of more efficient working methods.

In its Green Paper ‘Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply’ of November 2000, the Commission points out the importance of energy saving:

On 4 July 2001, a directive was approved that requires Member States to set annual quantitative targets to increase the share of electricity from renewable sources as a proportion of their overall electricity production as much as possible. Energy from renewable sources should be granted priority access to national markets, and planning procedures for the construction of power stations that produce ‘green electricity’ should be accelerated.

Securing reliable, efficient and sustainable energy sources is an important element in the sustainable development of the European economy. The Irish Presidency will concentrate on the completion and consolidation of the internal market in energy, in particular with regard to cross-border gas trade. The continued integration of sustainable development principles into the energy policies of the Union will also be pursued, notably through measures aimed at increased efficiency and conservation of energy. The International Conference for Renewable Energies will be an important and relevant event in Bonn in June.

The Environment Council has a substantial policy and legislative agenda for environmental protection. Areas to which the Irish Presidency will give attention in the first half of 2004 include climate : maintaining a high emphasis on policy and legislation to support implementation of the Kyoto Protocol; two legislative items on which progress will be important are the proposal for a Directive to establish a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community in respect of the Kyoto Protocol project mechanisms (joint implementation/cleaner development mechanism - JI/CDM - linking directive, and the proposal for a Regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases [...].

One of the key steps to achieving the Lisbon agenda is the further development of the European Research Area. The ERA objective is to strengthen the coherence of research activities and policies conducted in Europe in order to increase the impact of European research efforts, and are being translated into many specific initiatives [...]. One of the main EU programmes that contribute to the development of the ERA is the Framework Programme of Research, Technological Development and Demonstration. It is the main instrument at European level for the funding of research activities in key technological areas relevant to the competitiveness of European industry, the quality of life of European citizens and European policy development in areas such as agriculture, health and transport. The fund is spread over 4-year planned Framework Programmes and the present Sixth Framework Programme, which runs from 2003-2006, has a total budget exceeding €16 billion.

The EU wants to encourage common energy policies with the aim of ensuring equal access conditions at the European level to the advantage of firms that purchase and sell energy alike. Guaranteeing sufficient energy resources by assuring the availability of supplies and protecting the environment through the development of alternative energy sources are goals that may give better results thanks to common measures. Within the context of the Kyoto protocol, increased energy efficiency and incentives for using clean energy have become issues of fundamental importance. In fact, the European Commission has adopted an action plan to help encourage energy savings (the "Save" Programme encourages measures in this context and is the main coordinating instrument of the EU energy policy). Furthermore it has created a strategy for doubling the use of renewable energy sources from a current 6% to 12% by 2010.

The European Union, as a signer of the European Energy Charter, is promoting a dialogue and energy cooperation with Russia and the Mediterranean countries. Much attention has also been placed on cooperation with the regions of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea and with other groups of the petroleum producing countries (OPEC, Riyadh Forum). Energy cooperation with Third World countries is in fact a central aspect of the European strategy of assuring the availability of supplies, which is also capable of contributing to political stability and consolidation of general relations.

The nuclear sector, coordinated by the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), is an important aspect of EU energy policy. Euratom, founded in 1957 and based on a different Treaty than that of the European Community, has a series of tasks, among which the study and development of a peaceful use of nuclear energy, the definition of safety standards and the creation of a common market for this type of energy.

Regarding the energy sector the Commission presented its strategic objectives for 2000-2005 in the "Shaping a new Europe" paper. Energy was acknowledged to be key factor for Europe's competitiveness and economic development. The prime aim of the European Community's energy policy is to ensure a supply of energy to all consumers at affordable prices while respecting the environment and promoting healthy competition on the European energy market. In the context of the Kyoto Protocol, improved energy efficiency has become even more than previously an important element of Community strategy. In April 2000, the Commission adopted an action plan to improve energy efficiency in the European Community. The SAVE programme encourages energy efficiency measures, and will be the main instrument for coordination of the plan.

The European Community is a signatory to the European Energy Charter, which promotes East-West cooperation on energy. The European Union plays an active role in initiatives in the Baltic Sea region, including the "Northern dimension" action plan. The European Union is also developing major links with other countries such as the Balkan States and China. It is also taking care to maintain its relationships with its industrialised partners in the OECD and with its EEA partners. Finally, its links with the Gulf States are important both in themselves and as part of the dialogue between energy producers and consumers which has recently been revived.

An important aspect of the EU’s energy policy concerns nuclear energy. In this area all responsibility lies with the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) set up in 1957 on the basis of a separate treaty to that of the European Community. EURATOM has a number of tasks including research into and development of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the drawing up of uniform safety standards, the creation of a common market for nuclear energy equipment and an adequate supply of nuclear energy. It is also responsible for ensuring that nuclear materials are not used for unlawful purposes such as the production of nuclear weapons.

The role of the EU
Before the process leading up to the establishment of the internal energy market was initiated, the Community played a particular role within two specific areas of energy: coal and nuclear energy. The legal basis of this role has been is The Treaty concerning the European Coal and Steel Community and the EURATOM Treaty. The role of the Community was previously much more limited in the other sections of the energy area, including e.g. oil, natural gas and electricity.

The gradual process towards full liberalisation of the electricity and natural-gas markets means that the role of the EU in the area of energy has increased considerably since the process was launched at the beginning of the 1990s.

The need to implement joint EU energy policies is due especially to the necessity of ensuring uniform conditions of competition among the Member States, both for the enterprises that buy energy and those that sell it. Ensuring sufficient energy sypply and protecting the environment can be more effectivly ensured by means of various joint measures.

EU objectives
The major objectives in the field of energy are to improve the competitiveness of the Community, ensure supply and protect the environment.

EU means
A number of measures are employed to achieve these objectives, with regulation in the shape of directives and regulations being among the most important. This applies especially to the internal market, where legislation concerning electricity and gas in the Member States has converged to a significant degree since the beginning of the 1990s by means of a number of directives, resulting in lower prices and improved competitiveness. Directives and regulations aimed at energy savings and thus better environmental protection have also been adopted. Directives and regulations also oblige Member States to maintain certain emergency stores of oil and oil products such as to increase the security of supply in the event of oil supply crises.

A number of incentives exist to promote environmental protection, such as support programmes to promote pollution-free renewable energy and energy savings.

Finally, benchmarking and exchange of best practice experience and the like are employed to facilitate regulation of the internal energy market and achieve better energy efficiency.

The energy sector has in recent times become a sector of basic importance in all economies, especially in the European ones, where there is increasing reliance on energy from external sources. The European Union consumes increasing amounts of energy that grow at the same rate as its economies, but production within the Union is insufficient to meet its energy requirements. That is why the Commission of the European Union adopted on November 29, 2000 a Green Book that outlines the path “Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply” (COM (2000) 769 final).

The energy options of the European Union are determined by the current globalisation context, by the future enlargement of the European Union that will integrate new States with diverse energy structures, and, mainly, by the new energy market reference framework, conditioned by the need to liberalise the sector, and by environmental considerations.

According to the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council, held on 23 and 24 March 2000, and also in response to the requests by the European Parliament for adopting a detailed timetable for the complete liberalisation of the energy markets, the Commission has opened a wide debate within the Union on the future of the single market. In its Communication of 13 March 2001 about “Completing the internal energy market” (COM (2001) 125 final), it states that the total liberalisation of the energy market is a key factor for improving the competitiveness of Europe and the well-being of its citizens, all of which with a view to ensure sustainable development. The drop in energy prices as a result of the changes in the competition conditions is a common aim for all member States, which is why there is a need to coordinate actions at a Community-wide level.

On the other hand, a majority of public opinion is worried about the environment. The international commitments undertaken by the Union for all the Member States are also mandatory aspects, and lead to a European energy policy that controls increased demand, promotes energy efficiency from the supply side, and combats climate change, by promoting and developing renewable energies that, consequently, contribute to guarantee a secure supply.

The Spanish Presidency will be charged with the main responsibility of providing a decisive boost to the future energy strategy of the entire European Union, as sketched out in the Commission’s Green Book.

1) Given the growing dependence of the entire Union on external energy sources, it is essential to adopt decisive measures to save energy and control demand.

2) At the same time as this demand-centred strategy, it is necessary to pursue the final aim of achieving a real single energy market that does away with the current situation, which is characterised by the overlap of 15 national markets, in which the asymmetry in the respective opening conditions creates serious competitive distortions.

The final aim is a single European energy market that guarantees a secure supply at the Community level and leads to a reduction in energy prices, as a result of competition, and is therefore more accessible to all consumers, both private and industrial.

The aims to be achieved with these measures are inspired by a series of essential common principles that guide the actions of the Spanish Presidency: From the point of view of energy demand , energy policy is based on the principles of:

From the supply point of view, it is essential to achieve a real internal energy market:

The priority action lines of the Spanish Presidency may be specified as follows:

Belgian Presidency (second-half 2001) "EU energy policy is underpinned by the concern to guarantee supply, protect the environment and defend consumers' interests. The direct application of the treaties of Paris (ECSC) and Rome (EEC) helped bring about a true single market for coal and petroleum products. Where gas and electricity were concerned, the development of a single market has been hampered by their networked forms of transmission and distribution. In 2001 the Community will be proposing means of accelerating the liberalization of the gas and electricity markets. Presenting its strategic objectives for 2000-2005, the Community maintained that energy was a central factor in European competitiveness and economic development. The Commission stresses the many different source of energy available (cf. Commission Green Paper presented in late 2000) and the issue of guaranteed supply inside and outside the EU. On the subject of trans-European networks, the Commission intends concentrating on current bottlenecks and improving network interoperability. In late 2000, the EU concluded a political agreement on the promotion of renewable sources of energy, setting major albeit non-binding objectives."
(see Belgian EU Presidency)

Sewdish Presidency (first-half 2001)

"Coal and steel research
The Swedish Presidency also prepared the way for further coal and steel research after the European Coal and Steel Community treaty expires on 1 July 2002. The Council cannot formally adopt decisions before the legal basis for these decisions, established in the Treaty of Nice, is ratified by the Member States and statements are presented by the European Parliament. However, the Presidency managed to get the Member States to agree, and to solve the outstanding issues in all the decisions. These involve assets totalling an estimated EURO 1.6 billion that will be transferred to the EC, and the earnings earmarked for further coal and steel research.

Energy
Sweden attaches considerable importance to opening the energy markets and accelerating development of the internal energy market (electricity and gas) in accordance with the conclusions of the meeting of the European Council in Lisbon. The EU's objective to deregulate the European gas and electricity markets was manifested by the heads of state and government at the summit in Stockholm. It was also decided then that the timetables will be reviewed at the Barcelona summit in the spring of 2002.

Work with the directive on the promotion of electricity production based on renewable energy sources has continued during the spring. The Council adopted a common position in March. Discussions have subsequently been held with the European Parliament. This issue is of importance both for the internal energy market and for the transition to a diversified and ecologically sustainable energy system.

The Council has decided to enter into an agreement with the USA on an energy labelling programme for office equipment (Energy Star)." (see Swedish EU Presidency and the Concil conclusions on energy)

French Presidency (second-half 2000 - Statement of Mr Christian Pierret, Secretary of State for Industry, President in Office of the Council " Industry ", " Telecommunications " and " Energy " before the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy of the European Parliament (Brussels, 11 July 2000) )

"ENERGIE
Les dossiers considérés comme prioritaires par notre Présidence, concernent trois objectifs de la politique de l'énergie de l'Union européenne - à savoir sécurité d'approvisionnement, protection de l'environnement et compétitivité.

11 - Dans ce contexte, la première priorité de la Présidence sera la discussion de la Directive relative à la promotion de l'électricité produite à partir de sources d'énergie renouvelables sur le marché intérieur de l'électricité. Comme vous le savez, la Commission n'a transmis sa proposition que très récemment, et au Conseil "Énergie" de mai dernier seul un premier débat a pu avoir lieu.

Cette Directive, une fois mise en oeuvre, jouera un rôle significatif dans la stratégie de la Communauté pour réduire les émissions de CO2 et contribuer ainsi à respecter un engagement essentiel aux yeux de la Présidence pris au titre du protocole de Kyoto. Je souligne que le Conseil "Énergie" est programmé suffisamment tard dans le semestre pour vous permettre de rendre votre avis en temps utile et assurer ainsi un examen adéquat des amendements du Parlement européen par le Conseil. C'est une tâche essentielle, un point dur de notre Présidence.

Le Plan d'action communautaire en matière d'efficacité énergétique que la Commission a transmis au Conseil en avril 2000, est également un élément de grande importance en relation avec les engagements de la Communauté dans le cadre du protocole de Kyoto, en vue d'une réduction des émissions de CO2. Il vise à promouvoir l'intégration de l'efficacité énergétique dans les mesures communautaires non liées à l'énergie et présente des mesures horizontales destinées à renforcer les mesures communautaires existantes en matière d'efficacité énergétique ainsi que les nouvelles politiques et mesures communes et coordonnées. Ce Plan comporte plus de 70 actions individuelles qui devront, pour certaines faire l'objet de propositions concrètes ultérieures. C'est le cas par exemple de l'efficacité énergétique dans les bâtiments publics pour citer un secteur qui touche directement les Européens.

Pour conclure ce premier volet, le Conseil examinera les progrès accomplis dans l'établissement de la Stratégie pour l'intégration de l'environnement et du développement durable dans la politique de l'énergie, en vue du Conseil européen de Stockholm, ainsi que les résultats de la 6ème Conférence des Parties à la Convention sur les changements climatiques qui se tiendra en novembre prochain, résultats qui auront un impact élevé aussi sur le secteur de l'énergie.

12 - Venons en maintenant à la deuxième priorité de notre Présidence : assurer les approvisionnements de l'Europe.

Eu égard à la dépendance croissante de l'Union en matière d'approvisionnement et de sa sécurité, particulièrement dans le contexte des négociations avec les pays candidats à l'adhésion et des relations avec nos partenaires euro-méditerranéens, la Présidence considère que cet objectif revêt une très grande importance. Vous avez sans doute eu connaissance des conclusions adoptées par le dernier Conseil "Énergie" sur la sécurité de l'approvisionnement en gaz dans l'Union européenne. La Commission entend maintenant soumettre à consultation un Livre vert sur les orientations concernant l'avenir et la place des différentes sources d'énergie dans le cadre de l'objectif central d'une meilleure sécurité d'approvisionnement européenne. Ce Livre vert soulignera que la sécurité de l'approvisionnement énergétique dans l'Union européenne doit être considérée dans un contexte global, en tenant compte de toutes les sources d'énergie. Le Conseil espère que ce Livre vert sera transmis rapidement pour pouvoir s'y consacrer avec la plus grande attention.

13 - Le troisième objectif de la politique de l'énergie est de contribuer à la compétitivité globale de l'économie. Les conclusions du Conseil européen de Lisbonne en mars 2000 avaient été extrêmement claires en demandant d'accélérer la libéralisation de secteurs tels que l'énergie. Le Conseil européen de Feira a d'ailleurs appelé la Commission à produire un rapport d'étape pour le Conseil européen de Stockholm concernant les progrès vers cet objectif.

Dans cette perspective, la Commission présentera des communications relatives à l'accélération de la libéralisation des marchés de l'énergie, en ce qui concerne les effets sur l'emploi et le maintien des obligations de service public. Le Conseil entend bien disposer à temps de ces communications pour les évaluer en détail et fournir, le cas échéant, des lignes directrices pour la poursuite des travaux.

Je tiens ici avec netteté à souligner l'attachement de la Présidence française au respect naturellement de l'ouverture des marchés et au respect des obligations de service public. La présidence française sera très attentive aux effets sur l'emploi de la libéralisation des secteurs du gaz et de l'électricité lorsqu'il s'agira de dresser le bilan de cette libéralisation.

14 - En ce qui concerne la dimension extérieure de la politique de l'énergie, le Conseil a, lors de sa dernière session, confirmé que le secteur de l'énergie a un rôle central à jouer dans la réalisation des objectifs de la coopération euro-méditerranéenne, tels qu'ils ont été définis lors de la conférence de Barcelone des 27 et 28 novembre 1995. Le renforcement de la coopération euro-méditerranéenne dans ce secteur est dès lors d'une haute priorité pour notre Présidence et nous entendons la faire progresser lors des réunions prévues avec nos partenaires du sud de la Méditerranée. J'attends donc la présentation d'une Communication de la Commission sur la dimension méditerranéenne de notre politique en matière d'énergie et de transport avec un grand intérêt. La Présidence espère que le Conseil "Énergie" de décembre pourra indiquer des lignes directrices pour le renforcement de cette coopération.

Enfin, le Conseil suit attentivement la mise en oeuvre et le développement du Traité sur la Charte de l'Énergie. C'est le seul instrument offrant un véritable cadre multilatéral pour la coopération internationale. La Présidence, sans ignorer que de nombreuses questions sont encore posées, s'efforcera de faire avancer ces négociations en vue de la 6ème réunion de la Conférence de la Charte de l'Énergie le 7 décembre prochain. " (see French EU Presidency and the assesment of the French Presidency by Mr. Christian Pirret)