COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 9 December 1975 setting a short-term target for energy saving 1976/77

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community;

Having regard to the draft from the Commission;

Having noted the Commission communication entitled "Energy savings - short-term targets 1976/77" which sets out, inter alia, measures for reducing oil consumption;

Considering the Council resolutions of 17 December 1974 (1) concerning Community energy policy objectives for 1985 and on a Community action programme on the rational utilization of energy;

Considering the Council resolution of 26 June 1975 (2) on the setting of a short-term target for the reduction of oil consumption;

Whereas reduction of the rate of growth of internal energy consumption by measures for the rational and economical use of energy, without jeopardizing social and economic growth objectives, is one of the aims of the Community's energy policy;

(1) OJ No C 153, 9.7.1975, pp. 2 and 5. (2) OJ No C 153, 9.7.1975, p. 9. Whereas energy resources must be used rationally so that they may be conserved as much as possible;

Whereas by reducing oil imports the Community can alleviate the burden on balances of payments resulting from the present level of oil prices;

Whereas the upswing in the Community's economy which is expected to take place in 1976 and 1977, particularly on the assumption of an average annual growth rate of approximately 4 % in the gross domestic product, will result in increased demand for energy ; whereas there must therefore be no relaxing of the efforts to conserve energy;

Whereas it therefore appears desirable to set a target for savings in energy and oil consumption in the Community; 1. Sets the following targets for the Community as a whole, in the light of current forecasts in the Member States and of the abovementioned assumption concerning economic growth: - energy consumption : consumption to be stabilized in 1976 at a level slightly lower than that for 1973 (932 mtoe), and increased in 1977 by approximately 3 75 % in relation to the 1973 level,

- oil consumption : consumption for 1976 and 1977 to be maintained at an average level approximately 10 % below the 1973 level.

2. Requests the Member States, with a view to attaining these targets, to continue the efforts made so far, to adopt measures suited to their respective situations and to step up their activities particularly in the following fields: - giving priority to the implementation of measures for the rational utilization of energy in those sectors which come directly or indirectly within the competence of the national administrations and public institutions,

- informing the public so as to make it more aware of the energy-saving problem,

- advising and assisting consumers on practical ways of saving energy,

- giving encouragement in the form of loans and facilities inter alia,

- monitoring the application of the measures in force.

3. Calls upon the Commission, in accordance with the Council resolution of 17 December 1974 on the rational utilization of energy, to examine the advisability and possibility of extending to the Community as a whole some of the measures planned or already in force in the Member States and, where appropriate, to submit specific proposals to the Council as soon as possible;

4. Requests the Commission to report to the Council, pursuant to the abovementioned resolution, on the attainment of these targets and on the measures taken by the Member States or the Community.