Industry Committee calls for inclusion of energy policy in Treaty
The European Parliament's Committee on Industry, external trade, research and energy called on 16 October for Member States to incorporate a chapter on EU energy policy into the EC Treaty at the next Inter-governmental Conference (IGC). In a report by UK MEP, Giles Brian, responding to the Commission's Green Paper 'Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply,' the Committee said the incorporation of a chapter on energy policy into the Treaty would allow a more systematic, long term approach to European energy policy. This includes energy research and development, liberalisation of the energy industry, promotion of renewable energy sources, monitoring the implementation of the Kyoto agreement, encouraging the use of renewable energy sources and safeguarding security of supply. The Committee also outlines concrete measures to reduce demand and improve energy efficiency. These include incentives for the production of a new efficient, one-litre engine to curb oil demand and moves to reduce road and air travel by encouraging rail and sea transport. It also said Member States should be encouraged to promote more integrated regional and town planning, and that the development of alternative fuels and clean coal technology is of key importance. The Committee added that while taxation can play an important role in influencing behaviour, it should be applied to carbon emissions and other pollutants rather than energy production itself. The Committee also said it recognises that nuclear energy will have a reduced role to play following the decisions announced by Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium to phase it out. The report will be debated and voted on by the full House in the November part-session in Strasbourg.