HC Deb 13 May 1996 vol 277 cc328-9W
Mr. Day

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Energy Council held on 7 May. [28845]

Mr. Eggar

The Council considered several issues and received reports on matters of interest. I represented the UK.

The Council made some limited progress on electricity market liberalisation. Ministers agreed the broad framework for opening up electricity markets to competition and undertook to continue discussions on the extent and pace of market opening. I hope that we can make further progress in the coming weeks with a view to reaching a final decision at at an extraordinary Council meeting before the end of the Italian Presidency.

The Council also reached political agreement on the key elements of the Commission's proposal for a second programme, aimed at encouraging best use of energy efficiency technology which will help reduce CO, emissions. A five-year programme with a budget of 45 mecu was agreed.

The Council reached agreement on a resolution on the European energy policy White Paper. Broadly, this invites the Commission to continue its existing activities in the energy field; to organise co-operation on energy policy objectives and energy studies; to report on transparency measures and to present proposals from the indicative work programme on the basis of existing treaties and competences.

Also, the Council agreed conclusions on a Commission report on gas supply and prospects. These invite the Commission to continue to examine the issues raised in the report, bring forward proposals if necessary and report back to the Council in two years' time.

Council conclusions were agreed on the energy aspects of the Barcelona Euro-Mediterranean conference which identified energy as having a pivotal role in economic co-operation especially in terms of investment and the activities of companies in extending networks. The conclusions look forward to a conference of energy ministers in Trieste on 8 to 9 June—preceded by a day involving the industry on 7 June—to discuss possible participation in the energy charter treaty, implementation of trans-european energy projects and definition of priorities for future action.

The Council held a discussion on the SYNERGY proposal which involves a multi-annual financial support programme over five years to help non-member countries in the definition, formulation and implementation of energy policy. Work on this dossier will continue.

In addition, the Council received presentations from the Commission on its reports on civil protection, tourism and energy, as requested by declaration 1 to the treaty of the European Union, and on the oil supply and refining markets as well as progress reports on the energy charter treaty and the draft directive on integrated resource planning.