Informal meetings of the environment and energy ministers: main results

At Jean-Louis Borloo’s request, the meeting began on Friday by a lunch between the European ministers for energy and the environment, in the presence of Dr Rajendra K. Pachauri, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), who reminded those present that urgent action and unity to fight climate disruption was required.

The first working session, held in the presence of MEPs, civil society and industry representatives, together with Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, provided the chance to exchange views on energy efficiency. All the participants agreed to make energy efficiency the cornerstone of public, energy and climate policies. Indeed, this is essential for reducing greenhouse gases, and is one of the necessary medium to long-term solutions to rising oil prices. The advantages of this choice are therefore three-fold: the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, consumer savings and on a strategic level, the easing of pressure on Europe’s energy supply and, in the medium-term, on energy prices.

The energy ministers all recognised that the European Union should lead the way in embracing this approach which would generate new activities, growth and jobs. From the second-half of 2008 under the French Presidency, they would move towards drawing up regulations on certain products (light bulbs, standby devices, external chargers for electronic equipment). The European Commission will present a new Action Plan to improve energy efficiency in the European Community.

The second session brought together Ministers and MEPs, in the presence of Claude Mandil, former Executive Director of the International Energy Agency. He broadly outlined his report on energy security in the European Union which he submitted to the Prime Minister last April. The French Presidency has also submitted a written contribution to add to thoughts on this major issue. The French Presidency considers that energy security depends not only on the security of energy supply outside of the EU, for which dialogue and partnerships with third countries should be reinforced, but also on improved internal functioning: this involves bringing energy consumption under control, diminishing the share of fossil fuels, unifying the European energy markets and new grid interconnection infrastructure, and producing harmonized rules on functioning which would all allow solidarity and exchange between countries. Players would be better informed and long-term visibility on energy-market changes would increase as a result of more transparent data.

The third working session focused on the draft Directive on renewable energy sources – part of the "energy-climate" package – and led mainly to exchanges with Claude Turmes, the European Parliament rapporteur on the text. Discussion dwelt essentially on the relevance of setting-up necessary cooperation mechanisms, allowing Member States to conduct joint projects which would help them reach their national aims. More generally, the ideas put forward by both Claude Turmes and those in the joint contribution from Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland provide a good basis for discussion.

Emphasis was placed on the fact that the 10% target for the share of renewable energy in transport set out in the draft Directive would enable both the development of biofuels and clean vehicles, such as electric and hydrogen vehicles. At this time, participants were also reminded of the necessity for the European Union to use substantial and credible sustainability criteria with regard to European energy production and biofuel imports, and to promote the development of second-generation biofuels.

Informal meetings of the ministers responsible for environment and energy (Announcement)

• Updated: 23.12.2008

• Back to the top