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. Statements by M. A. MASTROMAURO, Member of the Italian parliament, P. LEQUILLER, Member of the French parliament, F. CASOLI, Member of the Italian senate and A. GAJDUSKOVA, Member of the Czech senate.

Brussels

energy efficiency (T)

renewable energy (T)

energy union (T)

joint meeting

single market (T)

KLINZ, Wolf (ALDE, DE)

LEQUILLER, Pierre (FR)

Towards a European Energy Community: extract from the joint parliamentary meeting

Views from outside of the meeting room and cutaways

SOUNDBITE (Italian) M. A. MASTROMAURO, Member of the Italian parliament, We need to have some kind of coordination role in the EU. For that to happen, we need to strengthen the solidarity measures if there are crisis or interruption of supplies, we need to make sure we bring in mechanisms that stop blocks, as far as energy availability is concerned. We need to embark more resources to look into the question of energy in the European budget and mobilize financial availability from the EIB to improve infrastructures and widen energy availability.

SOUNDBITE (French) P. LEQUILLER, Member of the French parliament, I am very much against having another treaty. I was part of the convention on the future of Europe; I saw how treaties' life cycle happens. I think we can do enough with the treaty that we have now, possibly enhancing cooperation, but we need political commitment. I therefore approve the initiatives taken by President Buzek and Jacques Delors.

SOUNDBITE (German) Wolf KLINZ (ALDE, DE), The Economic and Social Committee is very concerned that the Commission, the Member States and the private sector have got to find the money necessary. It is also very concerned that the funding is not in place and therefore wants to appeal to the Committee institutions and also the private sector to look at this whole issue of financing and make sure that there is funding in place to make these programs a reality. There is supposed to be CO2 certificates and a discussion about CO2 tax. These both ideas would protect the Community, but would also take a great toll on the finances of the Community and I think that it is important to look where the money from such taxes will go. It is not just a question of replacement technologies, it is a question of sustainable technology above all, and there is no point in investing in any technology that is not long-tern sustainable.

SOUNDBITE (Italian) F. CASOLI, Member of the Italian senate, From our point of view, the European regulator has to look at two level of actions: first, referral to distribution and security; on the second level, looking to the global energy policy effects having a low production costs but also low environmental costs. We cannot leave our companies under some sort of economic pressure, given the high cost of alternative energy sources. Unless that is divided among all the other operators in the world, we in Europe will be out of competition.

SOUNDBITE (Czech) A. GAJDUSKOVA, Member of the Czech senate, When we talk of energy supplies and security of energy supply, we also have to bear in mind the people who are going to guarantee it on our behalf. I appreciate that education and training are matters for the Member states, but, if a common energy policy is to be a strategic policy area, then the EU must support not only research and development in this sphere, but also the promotion of technical training, mobility and life-long learning at the very pinnacle of European education achievement.