MEPs call for a the establishment of a European Sustainable Energy Agency
Members of the European Parliament's Committee for Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy have called for the establishment of a European Sustainable Energy Agency. They feel this could be based on the model of the European Environment Agency and deal with all aspects of renewables with a special remit to make recommendations on how to achieve the EU's renewable energy and energy saving targets. The call came as committee members (MEPs) approved a report asking for fair treatment of traditional and renewable energy sources and for the introduction of an EU-wide carbon dioxide-energy tax. The report, presented by a member of the Green party, calls on the European Commission to devise a plan for fair treatment of traditional and renewable energy sources and to ensure the even application of EU state aid, so that all sources of energy are subject to the same provisions. 'Support for renewable energy sources must not be viewed as a straightforward subsidy under the rules for state aid but should be given separate, special treatment,' MEPs agreed. The committee argues that renewable sources of energy must be given higher priority, and has suggested a directive on renewable energies to complement the directive establishing the internal electricity market. It is also now calling on the European Commission to propose a directive establishing both priority rules for access to energy generated from renewable sources and a financial framework for shared-cost Community research on renewables and their promotion.