Villepin calls for 'Europatriotic' energy policy
On a visit to Berlin, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin defended the merger between Suez and Gas de France (GDF) as being positive for European energy independence and proposed the development of a genuine European energy diplomacy. The Franco-German locomotive is moving towards the establishment of a Common Energy Policy, away from either pure free market mechanisms or strictly national policies. Energy has become of utmost geopolitical importance once again, and there is a growing will to craft a united policy to make the EU stronger on the global energy scene.
Even though de Villepin does not dwell on EU strategies and policies on renewables, it is clear that he presents a broad political vision, a paradigm shift. Obviously bioenergy and renewables would fall under this vision too. We strongly favor this 'Europatriotic' supra-national approach. Once a common European energy policy is in place, it will be easier to work with the developing world on bioenergy, instead of sticking to mere bilateral agreements and cooperation efforts. Development Commissioner Louis Michel has earlier hinted at this fusion of policy fields on an EU level -- tying bioenergy production in the developing world to CAP and trade reform to EU development aid.
Speaking at the prestigious Bertelsmann Foundation, Dominique de Villepin outlined his vision of a European energy policy based on "three pillars":
bioenergy :: energy :: sustainability :: energy indepence :: energy security :: geopolitics :: European Union ::
"Let us not give in to the mechanical workings of supply and demand, let us not expose ourselves any further to the tensions of the world," he said.
The French PM will be conveying the same message to Commission President José Manuel Barroso when he visits Brussels today (25 September). The Commission announced that it will issue its final decision on the proposed Suez-GDF merger before 17 November.
More information:
Directorate-General for Energy and Transport: The European Union Green Paper on Energy - A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy (website).
Prime Ministerial website: L’énergie et la culture au cœur de l’Europe - Sept. 22, 2006.
Libération: Energie: Villepin pour une vision européenne - Sept. 22, 2006.
Le Figaro: Villepin veut un «patriotisme économique européen» - actualized Sept. 23, 2006.
AP/Nouvel Observateur: Villepin plaide pour une "diplomatie énergétique européenne" - Sept. 22, 2006.
Even though de Villepin does not dwell on EU strategies and policies on renewables, it is clear that he presents a broad political vision, a paradigm shift. Obviously bioenergy and renewables would fall under this vision too. We strongly favor this 'Europatriotic' supra-national approach. Once a common European energy policy is in place, it will be easier to work with the developing world on bioenergy, instead of sticking to mere bilateral agreements and cooperation efforts. Development Commissioner Louis Michel has earlier hinted at this fusion of policy fields on an EU level -- tying bioenergy production in the developing world to CAP and trade reform to EU development aid.
Speaking at the prestigious Bertelsmann Foundation, Dominique de Villepin outlined his vision of a European energy policy based on "three pillars":
- A European energy diplomacy led by a special representative so that Europe "speaks with one voice" on the international scene;
- The "convergence of national energy policies" in terms of production, investment, transport and storage of energy - the ITER nuclear fusion project being a prime example of such co-operation, and;
- The co-ordination of strategic oil and gas reserves to prevent market speculation.
bioenergy :: energy :: sustainability :: energy indepence :: energy security :: geopolitics :: European Union ::
"Let us not give in to the mechanical workings of supply and demand, let us not expose ourselves any further to the tensions of the world," he said.
The French PM will be conveying the same message to Commission President José Manuel Barroso when he visits Brussels today (25 September). The Commission announced that it will issue its final decision on the proposed Suez-GDF merger before 17 November.
More information:
Directorate-General for Energy and Transport: The European Union Green Paper on Energy - A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy (website).
Prime Ministerial website: L’énergie et la culture au cœur de l’Europe - Sept. 22, 2006.
Libération: Energie: Villepin pour une vision européenne - Sept. 22, 2006.
Le Figaro: Villepin veut un «patriotisme économique européen» - actualized Sept. 23, 2006.
AP/Nouvel Observateur: Villepin plaide pour une "diplomatie énergétique européenne" - Sept. 22, 2006.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home