EU leaders stress renewables, research, right to choose at summit

EU leaders stress renewables, research, right to choose at summit

Brussels (Platts)--24Mar2006

Renewable energy, research and development and a nation's right to choose
its energy mix were all emphasized in talks by European Union leaders at the
European Council Thursday, Austria's federal chancellor, Wolfgang Schuessel
told journalists late Thursday.
Schuessel said the leaders had had an "uncontroversial" debate on issues
such as security of networks, prices, energy sources and import dependency.
Leaders had stressed the importance of renewables.
"For example, I asked if in agricultural policy should we not put more
emphasis on biomass." The European Commission adopted a biomass action plan,
which includes proposals for agricultural policy, last December. They had also
supported promoting low emission technology, in all forms, said Schuessel. "It
has nothing to do with the [energy] source. Everyone is looking for more
energy efficiency and low emissions."
There was general consensus that each member state had the right to
choose its own energy mix, said Schuessel, and could not be forced to use
nuclear power, for example. "But if someone does use nuclear, we need the
highest possible safety standards," he said.
The topic of economic patriotism, following a spate of cross-border
merger plans and governments' reactions in the EU's energy sector, did not
come up, said Schuessel. "We have clear rules inside the EU. The EC is the
watchdog and guardian of the EU treaties," he said. "It is up to the EC to
guarantee competition, to avoid monopolies, to guarantee responsible prices
for consumers and to liberalize markets."
The EC is investigating France for its role in the planned merger of
French utilities Gaz de France and Suez, and Spain for its reaction to E.ON of
Germany's bid for Spanish power company Endesa. The leaders are to adopt
final, formal conclusions on energy later Friday.
---Siobhan Hall, siobhan_hall@platts.com

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