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EU 'agreed' on common energy policy
24/03/2006
Fuente: The Times, by Rhys Blakely and agencies
Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president, said today that European leaders had agreed a common energy policy. Liberalisation of the European energy market is expected to be in place by the middle of 2007.
Inevitably, though, some felt that the agreement only went part of the way to addressing the issues. "Some of us would have gone further," Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister, said. "The argument for liberalisation has not been totally won but the direction of travel is right."
The EC highlighted the seriousness of the energy issue at a two-day summit in Brussels amid heightening concerns over protectionism and a growing dependency on imports of gas and oil.
Confirming the consensus, Angela Markel, the German Chancellor, said: "We had a very good discussion which underlined that all member states agree that we need a coordinated joint energy policy."
Senor Barroso had said that the agreement would "promote competitiveness, coherence, solidarity and sustainability".
Mr Blair welcomed the accord, saying, "This argument is being won by those who want to open up to liberalisation."
He cited the utilities suppliers of his official residence as illustrating how Britain had taken a lead in opening up markets. "The electricity in No 10 Downing Street is supplied by a French company, the water by a German company. The gas is supplied by four companies, three of which are not British," he said.
"Liberalised energy markets and more open markets are good for business and for consumers right across Europe."
However, deep divisions remain over how markets should be opened up and what regulation is needed.
There is already deep-seated anger in some member states, including Britain, over "serious malfunctions" identified by the EU in Europe's energy markets.
EU efforts to address those complaints by clamping down on alleged anti-competitive practices by some of the largest energy companies were swiftly followed by a round of proposed mega-mergers in the sector.
A draft summit statement published today said that a EU-wide policy must aim for secure supplies, ensure economic competitiveness and promote environmental sustainability, but was short on detail of how those aims should be met.
It added that the EU's "energy dialogue with Russia should be revitalised," and the EU should sign "new partnerships" with countries over whose territories pipelines carry gas and oil to Western Europe.
It acknowledged that Europe faces a string of difficult challenges, that also include security risks to producing and transit countries, inefficiency and climate change.
Earlier this month the EC mapped out six priority areas, including the establishment of a European energy regulator - whose powers would supersede those of the British watchdog Ofgem.
Today's draft statement was heralded as signalling progress by policymakers in Brussels, but no mention was made of a string of rows which have divided EU nations over energy.
It had been feared that rows over a series of contested takeover bids could overshadow the European talks. In recent months, Spain has acted to block E.ON, the German utility, from acquiring Endesa, while the French Government has played a central role in efforts to protect Suez from Italy's Enel.
Tensions over the issue threatened to explode on the eve of the summit, when Italy, deep in campaigning for elections in just over two weeks, sought support for a statement denouncing protectionism.
However, Wolfgang Schüssel, the Austrian Chancellor, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, insisted there had been no confrontation. "It was an absolutely calm, substantial and positive debate. Nobody blamed the others, no fights, no turf wars. It was a very good substantial debate," he said.
"Be sure, ten years from now, if you look back to what happened today, this was a very substantial debate leading to a total change of the energy policy in substance in the European Union."
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