ESC Opinion on the draft European Energy Charter
At its plenary session of 4 July 1991, the Economic and Social Committee (ESC) adopted an Opinion on the communication from the Commission on a European Energy Charter (COM(91) 36). The Committee endorses the principles underlying the Charter and recognizes its objective of contributing to security of Community energy supplies under more satisfactory ecological and economic conditions. However, a number of aspects could endanger its future effectiveness, inter alia: The balance between rights and obligations in the market economy framework as set out in the Charter, particularly in the context of Central and Eastern European nations; the need for a mechanism ensuring observance of the Charter by signatory countries; the requirement for a study of the European energy sector up to the year 2010; greater emphasis on transfer of technology and experience, and finance, in guaranteeing energy supply; an assessment of the Charter's impact on construction of the internal energy market. The Committee proposes several specific alterations to the text of the draft Charter.