The event "Towards a European Energy Community" takrs place in the European Parliament in Brussels. In a joint meeting in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs and MPs from all EU Member States debated on single energy market, sustainable production and security of energy supply.

Brussels

energy efficiency (T)

renewable energy (T)

BUZEK, Jerzy (EPP, PL)

energy union (T)

joint meeting

single market (T)

OETTINGER, Günther (DE, EC)

DELORS, Jacques (FR)

PADOA-SCHIOPPA, Tommaso (IT)

Towards a European Energy Community: extract from the event

SOUNDBITE (French), Tommaso PADOA-SCHIOPPA, former Board member of the European Central Bank, Chairman of the Paris-based think tank &quot;Notre Europe&quot;, EU energy policy is restricted to the economic half market and environment and so on and leaves the monopoly on strategy to the member states. That is what makes EU integration and energy policy suffer. That was the case in 1950 and it is still more the case now given that energy resources are likely outside the EU, so the strategic side of energy policy is linked to security and international relations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marc van der WOUDE, Co-Chair of &quot;Towards a European Energy Community: A Policy Proposal&quot;, An energy policy is a policy which makes and reconciles 3 objectives which are not necessarily reconcilable. You have to have access at reasonable prices for everybody, so that is the accessibility condition; you have to have to meet the sustainability conditions, the long term and environmental aspects. And the reliability condition and you have to make a match between the 3 and that is dynamic element which is not frozen in time.

SOUNDBITE (English), Leigh HANCHER, Co-chair of the report of the Think Tank &quot;Notre Europe&quot;, Professor at the University of Tilburg, Netherlands, On one hand we have a lot of progress, but on the other hand the treaties leave much to be desired. One of the problems that we have identified is the fragmentation between the different parts and across the potential policy areas.

SOUNDBITE (English), Leigh HANCHER, Co-chair of the report of the Think Tank &quot;Notre Europe&quot;, Professor at the University of Tilburg, Netherlands, An energy fund, we think this too, that could be something that could be set up like a 'Schengen type model' and perhaps common representation towards external supplies could be and example where cooperation between the willing might proof to be useful.

SOUNDBITE (German), G&#252;nther OETTINGER, Member of the EC in charge of Energy, I think we are now facing a true Europeanization of energy policy, we know that there is a certain difference of opinion when it comes to the responsibilities in this field between the national governments, national parliaments and the European institutions. In very cases have I actually seen that there is a very clear recognition and a clear agreement that we need EU energy policy, it can only work and harmonised if we take the right steps.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, In a way we are going back to our roots, what we aim to do is to have a joint common market for Energy, energy produced from many sources, also renewable energies, we need to equip ourselves with proper zero emission technologies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jerzy Karol BUZEK, EP President, Even if not all Member States are ready start building this new community, we have to start our work in what ever group of countries willing to do so.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jacques DELORS, former President of the EC, Leader of think tank group, Energy is non negligible part of the foreign policy - the External policy. We have recalled the situation concerning the gas pipelines; it is not an optimal allocation of resources when it comes to relations with Russia, then everyone is fighting in is own corner and going to see Mr Putin and EU citizen's looking at this might wonder whether the EU really exists, so I think there is a strong reason.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jacques DELORS, former President of the EC, Leader of the think tank group, This project might be split into 3 steps, common actions, heighten cooperation and a new treaty. We should never neglect that this degree of certain 'fatigue' (tiredness) on the part of governments when they consider a new treaty, but I think that the strength of treaties has resulted in the ongoing integration of our countries and peace, because the treaty give rules which people obey.