§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the matters discussed and decisions taken at the EU Energy Council) on 10 December.
§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC 681W Energy Council of 10 December indicating the voting record of each member state on each item and where no formal votes were taken.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 13 December 1993]The Council considered several major issues and received reports from the Commission on other matters of interest. I represented the United Kingdom.
The Council reached unanimous political agreement on a directive harmonising hydrocarbons licensing. This important internal energy market measure will ensure that all member states' licensing procedures for hydrocarbons are transparent, non-discriminatory and competitive. A formal common position should follow at an early date.
Unanimous political agreement was also reached on the Council's assent for a new Commission decision on coal state aids. This will take effect from 1 January 1994. The decision provides for tighter Community rules for state aid to the coal industry until the expiry of the ECSC treaty in 2002. Formal adoption of the Council's assent will take place at an early date.
A new stage was reached in the progress of the two directives on liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets. The Commission presented modified proposals, which took account of the recent opinion of the European Parliament and which it had prepared at the invitation of the Energy Council of 30 November 1992.
The Commission presented a paper on nuclear safety in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The Council confirmed the need to give priority to nuclear safety in assistance programmes.
The Commission outlined its ideas for developing guidelines for a Community energy policy. The Council invited the Commission to continue its work under the next Presidency.
The Commission reported to the Council on progress on the European energy charter and on its proposals for trans-European energy networks and cohesion. The Council also considered a mid-term review of the Thermie demonstration and dissemination programme and invited the Commission to come forward with a proposal on minimum standards for refrigerators and freezers.
No formal votes were taken by the Council.