HC Deb 06 July 1993 vol 228 cc106-7W
Mr. Nigel Evans

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on issues discussed and decisions taken at the meeting of the European Community's Council of Energy Ministers on 25 June.

Mr. Eggar

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 political agreement on the ALTENER programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources and the SAVE directive, an energy efficiency measure. Formal adoption will take place at an early date.

The Commission also reported on progress in implementing the Community's nuclear safety assistance programmes to the countries of eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The Council called for the urgent implementation of practical measures to improve safety at nuclear plants in the region.

Progress was made on the Commission's proposals for a new coal state aids decisions to replace the existing one which expires at the end of this year. The United Kingdom emphasised the importance of moving towards economic viability in the light of international market prices for coal and the Council agreed on the need for the Community's coal industry to make progress in that direction through reduction of production costs and capacities in order to achieve degression of aids.

Under the heading of the internal energy market, the Council discussed the proposed directives on liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets. The Commission outlined new ideas on access to networks in response to the invitation by the Council on 30 November to modify its proposals. The Council agreed that discussions should continue while the opinion of the European Council is awaited. The Commission also gave a preview of the second report on the internal energy market. The Council discussed the hydrocarbons licensing directive and agreed that outstanding issues should be resolved with the intention of achieving a common position under the Belgian presidency.

The Council also considered the progress of negotiations on the European energy charter.

The Commission reported on forthcoming proposals for a directive on the energy efficiency requirements for household refrigerators and freezers and for guidelines on trans-European energy networks. The Presidency reported on discussions in ECOFIN on the proposed CO2/energy tax.