Commission proposes extension of SYNERGY programme for 1998
The European Commission has put forward a proposal for a Council Regulation extending the validity of the Community's SYNERGY programme for the promotion of international cooperation in the energy sector for a further period of one year. This further extension of the SYNERGY programme (already extended for a period of one year for 1997), falls within the context of the Commission's preparation of a framework energy programme, incorporating all the Community programmes which have an energy component. At the request of the Council, the Commission adopted, on 23 April 1997, a Communication entitled "An overall view of energy policy and actions". This draws two main operational conclusions: - Energy measures should be strengthened so as to better respond to the expected significant increase in external dependency, to the objective of competitiveness, and to the need to respect the environment; - With a view to increased efficiency, efforts should be made at clarification and streamlining. Community energy policy needs a coherent framework to allow it to fulfil its priority purposes with adequate means. Following on from this communication, the Commission will submit appropriate proposals, following the direction of these conclusions, by the end of the year. It will, however, clearly not be possible, given the scope of the proposal, for a new programme to be definitively adopted before the first half of 1998. Consequently, the objective of the present proposal from the Commission is to ensure the continuity, for 1998, of the action started by SYNERGY.