[autom.vertaling] De EU en Rusland convergentie van strategieën op energiegebied verder om te bevorderen (en)

A Round Table discussion on energy strategies was held on 17 October 2003 in Moscow in the context of a two-day EU-Russia Energy Dialogue's Conference on the Comparative Analysis of European and Russian Energy Strategies. The event was opened by Viktor KHRISTENKO, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, and Francois LAMOUREUX, Director-General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission. The participants agreed to cooperate closely together to promote the convergence of energy strategies and the development of energy markets, within the framework of the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue.

Participants in the Round Table discussions noted common objectives of secure supply and demand of energy, with Russia being a major energy supplier and the EU a net and growing energy importer. The discussions highlighted the growing mutual interdependency and interest of pursuing policy convergence, industrial cooperation, the facilitation of investment, as well as the approximation of technical norms and standards to open up a truly continent-wide energy market.

The issue of denominating Russia's oil and gas exports in Euros was also raised. While recognising that this issue is finally one of suppliers and their clients, participants in the Round Table highlighted that this would be a clear signal of the deepening relations between Russia and the EU in the energy sector.

Participants also welcomed the recent EU decision to co-finance a feasibility study of the North European gas pipeline, the progress achieved in resolving the issue of destination clauses in certain long-term gas supply contracts, as well as the European Commission's announcement to launch negotiations with Russia on trade in nuclear materials in January 2004.

Background on the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue:

The Energy Dialogue was launched in October 2000 to make progress in the definition and arrangements for the EU-Russia Energy Partnership. It provides an opportunity to raise all questions of common interest, including the introduction of cooperation in energy savings, rationalisation of production and transport infrastructure, European investment possibilities and relations between producer and consumer countries. The EU and Russia are important partners in the energy field: 53% of Russia's oil exports go to the EU, representing 16% of total EU oil consumption. 62% of Russia's natural gas exports arrive in the EU, representing 20% of total EU natural gas consumption. The Energy Dialogue covers oil, gas, electricity, coal, nuclear power and energy efficiency.

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