Climate change, European constitution top of German EU presidency

Freiburg (Platts)--18Dec2006

Climate protection and the European constitution are the focus topics
from January when Germany takes over presidency of the EU for six months,
Chancellor Merkel said Friday.
In a speech, Merkel said energy policy would be an important area. She
urged for a common position of EU member states to come to an agreement for
reduction targets post-2012 if Europe wanted to play a leading role in climate
protection.
Merkel also said if the Kyoto protocol were to be met, there had to be a
focus on on energy efficiency. "We want to agree on an action plan for a
European energy policy at the spring summit," she said in the speech, noting a
"real internal market" for electricity and gas was needed.
Furthermore, renewables had to be expanded and energy research developed.
Germany will also be preside over the G8 summit next year.

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