Roundup: EU leaders endorse common energy policy in principle

European Commission President Jose Maunel Barroso said late Thursday night that the heads of state and government of the European Union (EU) are having "general consensus" on the idea of a common energy policy.

"I am very delighted that the European Council is backing our call for an energy policy for Europe, (our call) that it makes sense to have one common strategy for Europe," Barroso told a news conference at the end of the first day of an EU summit.

The European Council is Brussels jargon that refers to the mechanism of EU summits, the top decision-making regime of the EU.

"European leaders agree to promote competitiveness, coherence, solidarity and sustainability."

"Competitiveness, through integration of markets; coherence, developing an external energy policy; solidarity, through infrastructure and inter-connections; and sustainability, with more ambition in energy efficiency and renewables."

He said the EU leaders will make conclusions Friday, which he wished to be "strong and very committed."

"To be credible externally, we must be united internally," he said.

Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said the leaders had a wide-ranging discussion over the energy issue on Thursday.

Topics included the security of networks, prices, sources of supply, Europe's growing dependency over the next few years and alternatives to exports such as renewable energy and higher energy efficiency, he told the same press conference.

He cautioned that only general principles have been agreed upon and that the leaders are expected to go to details on Friday.

He stressed, however, Thursday's debate is substantial and of historical significance.

He said the issue would be followed up by a report of the European Commission in the June summit and the EU will have annual reviews on its energy policy.

At the June summit, EU leaders will discuss foreign policy aspects of the energy policy, he said. And in 2007, during Germany's EU presidency, there will be a major review.

Thursday's discussion took as basis a greenpaper presented by the executive European Commission.

The greenpaper calls for the creation of a new EU-level energy regulator and an integrated European electricity grid.

It also asks for new legislation on oil and gas stocks to ensure Europe has an emergency gas stockpile, and a mechanism to ensure a rapid and coordinated response to supply emergencies.

The document also wants the EU to speak with one voice on energy, implying that in the future one EU-level official would go to negotiations with external partners on behalf of all the 25 member states.

Divisions are expected among the leaders as the greenpaper, basis for future legislation, would deprive part of the authority of national governments on energy policies.

Barroso, however, was realistic about the possible achievements of the two-day summit. He indicated Friday's conclusions might include few specific measures.

He said the conclusions might include a European energy policy based on sustainability, competitiveness and security of supply; a regular review scheme for such a policy; completion of an internal electricity and natural gas market; a long-term renewable energy roadmap; an energy efficiency action plan; construction of infrastructure for security of supply and diversification; dialogue with energy giants like Russia and Norway; and more efforts to increase energy efficiency in the transport sector.

Virtually, none of the goals goes as deep as immediately threatening the authority of national governments.

Schuessel admitted that project needs "time, patience and support from all sides."

The energy issue became priority of the EU following the energy crisis at the beginning of the year between Russia and Ukraine, through which EU countries get much of its natural gas supply.

A sense of urgency was also prompted by recent rifts among member states over blocked cross-border takeovers of energy companies.

Source: Xinhua