European Parliament draft report concerning the Green Paper on energy policy
The European Parliament Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy (CRTDE) has published a draft report on the Green Paper "For a European Union energy policy". This report, of 7 June 1995, contains a motion for a resolution on the Green Paper and an explanatory statement. The Committee has identified the main value of the Green Paper as an instrument to generate discussion on energy problems and solutions and to form the basis of a future, coherent European Union energy policy. On behalf of the European Parliament, the Committee has suggested that the Council and the Commission should spell out the European Union's long-term energy policy, the way it relates to policies of the Member States, and where there is a need for convergence. The Committee has also proposed that the Commission should indicate, for industry and small and large consumers, how a balance can be struck in the short and long term between the three objectives of energy policy namely - Security of supply; - Competitive prices; - Protection of the environment. In conclusion, the Committee takes the view that the European Union's task with regard to energy policy includes, among other points: - Consolidating and stimulating national and EU research programmes and demonstration projects, including those aimed at new technologies for the use of coal; - Encouraging a gradual liberalization and strengthening of the market effect of the energy sector; - Creating a favourable climate for trans-European networks (TENs) in the energy sector; - Drawing up and implementing an energy programme with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the countries of the Mediterranean and Africa; - Ensuring, by means of the framework programmes, that the European Union retains its leading position in the field of energy, particularly with regard to conservation, safety and technology.