Energieministers bespraken olievoorraden en plannen om EU energiezuiniger te maken (en)

MEMO/09/271

Brussels, 11 June 2009

Energy Council – 12 June 2009

The energy council will take place in Luxembourg on 12 June in the morning. The main point in the agenda is the vote on the Oil Stocks Directive, although there are going to be discussions on Energy Efficiency and International Relations.

• 1. 

  Oil stocks legislation

The Council would like to reach a final agreement on the proposal. The main issue is the need for the Commission to ensure the release of EU stocks to the extent needed for adequate Community contribution to an IEA-led action in times of supply difficulties. Then the directive would be in line with the political guidelines issued by the European Council, calling on the Commission to seek a regime complementary to the IEA crisis mechanism.

• 2. 

  Energy Efficiency
• - 

  Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the indication by labelling and standard product information of energy and other resources by energy-related products.
• - 

  Proposal for a recast of Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Energy performance of buildings.
• - 

  Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters.
• - 

  Progress report

The Presidency will give an overview of progress in the Council. The Commission will inform Member States on the progress achieved in implementing the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Directives and on the way forward in the implementation process after the EP votes on the recast of the framework Labelling Directive and its implementing measure on televisions and refrigerators.

Labelling directive: The Commission is committed to help the Swedish Presidency reach an agreement in second reading. A main point of discussion will be the label layout, further to the vote in first reading in Parliament. The Commission services intend to run a consumer survey quickly to assess the impact and readability of the label options.

Building directive: the Commission wants to underline the importance of the building sector for our economies and the high potential for cost-efficient energy savings and highlight its contribution to EU's energy and climate policy objectives and important role for European economic revival. More ambitious and far reaching policy in the sector is needed. This is why the Commission proposed the EPBD recast.

Tyre directive: The Commission is confident that the large support of the Delegations and of the European Parliament should make it possible for the Swedish Presidency to go for a fast second reading agreement.

Implementing measures: further to the EP votes on the recast of the framework Labelling Directive and its implementing measure on televisions, the Commission's aim is to avoid the introduction of a new label layout ahead of the outcome of the co-decision process on the recast of the Energy Labelling Directive that is expected by mid-December.

• 3. 

  International relations in the field of energy
• - 

  Russia
• - 

  Ukraine
• - 

  Southern Corridor
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  Energy Community
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  OPEC
• - 

  Others

The Third point will be simply an information session from the Presidency and Commission:

• - 

  Following the January gas crisis, Russia and Ukraine has remained a priority in the EU's external energy relations. The Commission continues to monitor the developing situation, engaging with both sides regularly including at the highest political level. Timely payment by Ukraine for gas supplies remains a particular concern.
• - 

  The EU-Russia Summit in Khabarovsk was an occasion to exchange views on energy issues, including the enhanced energy Early Warning Mechanism and Russian proposals on global energy security.
• - 

  Concerning Ukraine, following the conference on modernisation of the Ukrainian gas infrastructure in Brussels, progress has been made on the implementation of the joint declaration signed.
• - 

  The discussions on the Southern Corridor have progressed in recent months, with a positive outcome of the Prague Summit and the text of the Intergovernmental Agreement agreed upon on May 28-29. Provided Turkish government approval is received, the signing ceremony could be foreseen in the near future.
• - 

  The Ministerial Council of the Energy Community will meet on 26 June. The main decisions expected relate to the adoption of the work programme and the budget for 2010-2011 and the establishment of a task force on renewable energy. As regards the accession of new parties, the Commission will only present a status report and no formal decisions will be taken.
• - 

  On the Mediterranean Solar Plan, independent consultants are assisting in defining a solar master plan with recommendations for methodology and necessary steps. However, clarification on the institutional framework of the Union for the Mediterranean is needed for further progress on this initiative.
• - 

  Activities are ongoing with other partners. The next EU-OPEC meeting takes place on June 23. Contacts with Qatar regarding bilateral energy cooperation are ongoing. The next meeting of the enhanced energy cooperation with the U.S. is foreseen for July.
• 4. 

  In the Any Other Business part there will be a
• - 

  Presentation by the Commission of the advances of the Baltic interconnection Plan.
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  Information from the Italian delegation on the G8 Energy Ministerial Meeting (Rome, 24-25 May 2009).