Strengthening energy cooperation between the Member States and the Community
The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Council Decision establishing a framework for cooperation between the Member States and the Community around agreed common energy objectives. The proposed framework, foreseen in the White Paper on Energy Policy, aims at strengthening cooperation in energy matters. In particular, the framework takes into account the objectives of security of supply, environmental protection, job creation, greater business efficiency and economic and social cohesion. The Commission proposes eight common objectives, as follows: - Community energy policy should contribute to the achievement of the objective set out in the Treaties; - Community energy markets should be integrated, on the principles of openness and competitiveness; - Energy prices should be transparent and undistorted; - Energy and environmental objectives should be fully integrated in order to achieve the objective of sustainable development; - Security of supply should be strengthened; - External energy relations should be coordinated, to ensure free and open trade and a secure framework for investment; - Renewable energy resources should be promoted at Community and national levels; - Energy efficiency should be improved significantly by 2010, through coordination of Community and national measures.