“We need a new common European energy policy”, said the Minister for Economics and President of the EU Energy Council Martin Bartenstein after the first session of the high-level working group on competitiveness, energy and environment, which met for the first time under the chairmanship of Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen in Brussels today. “The working group is an important step in this direction and it will prepare recommendations on the future orientation of EU environment and energy policy. Energy, environment and competitiveness policy areas should also be better harmonised”, continued the Minister.
“During the first session, the focus was on framework conditions for a safe and reasonably priced supply of energy in Europe, and the requirements of a new energy policy which would also ensure increased competitiveness”, said Bartenstein. “Regulations from other policy areas can affect energy policy. For instance, European trading of CO2 emission allowances is raising electricity prices. Such effects should be avoided as far as possible in future. Furthermore, increased transparency should lead to more reasonable electricity and gas prices for consumers. The Commission will consider the results of the working group in the Green Paper on a new European energy policy. The Austrian Presidency will take up this issue at the Extraordinary Energy Council in Brussels on 14 March”, stated the Minister.
The European Commission set up the new high-level working group on competitiveness, energy and environment as a follow-up to the communication on industrial policy of October 2005. The working group will be meeting on a regular basis over a period of two years. The European Commission is represented by Vice-President Günter Verheugen, Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas and Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. The Member States are represented by Minister Bartenstein and his German counterpart, Michael Glos, together with Alan Johnson from the UK and Mauri Pekkarinen from Finland. In addition, representatives from industry, environmental organisations, consumer organisations and the EU Parliament are attending the session.
The fundamental aim of the working group is to ensure that the effects of EU environment and energy measures on the competitiveness of European companies is examined more closely. The next session will be held on 2 June, when the main item on the agenda will be the trading of CO2 allowances and developments on electricity markets. The third session will be held on 30 October, when the topic will be national reform plans and renewable energy.
Contact:
Federal Ministry for Economics and Labour
Office of the Minister: Holger Fürst Tel.: (01) 711 00-5193
Press section: Harald Hoyer, Tel.: (01) 711 00-5130
mailto: presseabteilung@bmwa.gv.at
Internet: http://www.bmwa.gv.at
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