COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 06.09.1995 
COM(95) 197 final 
95/0126 (CNS) 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
concerning a multiannual programme to promote international cooperation in the 
energy sector - SYNERGY programme 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EQ 
adopting a multiannual programme to promote international cooperation in the 
energy sector - SYNERGY programme 
(presented by the Commission) 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
concerning a multiannual programme to promote international cooperation in the 
energy sector - SYNERGY programme 
This document proposes the establishment of a multiannual programme to promote 
international cooperation on energy policy definition and formulation in non-member 
countries. 
The objectives of the programme are: 
- to promote sustainable development, notably by reducing emissions of greenhouse 
gases and of pollutants linked to energy consumption; 
- to enhance security of supply; and 
- to improve energy efficiency. 
The proposal is based on: 
• the Community's need for a specific instrument in view of the changes on the 
international energy scene and of Community policy (see Annex I); 
• the positive balance and the lessons that can be drawn from the operation of 
international energy cooperation on the basis of the resources available in the budget 
since 1980 (see Annex II). 
It will also bring benefits in terms of complementarity, subsidiarity and efficiency. 
1. Complementarity 
SYNERGY covers elements not covered by the existing Community instruments and will 
contribute to preparing or supporting action taken under these programmes. 
The latter point will be reinforced by close collaboration between the different 
instruments, which should also exclude any overlap. 
(a) As regards means, SYNERGY will implement cooperation in the field of energy 
policy definition and formulation. There is no such instrument at present in the 
Community. The framework research programme concerns more the development 
of energy policy tools, and the other programmes tend to be devoted to the 
implementation of energy policies. Some instruments carry out energy policy 
measures, but in the framework of national or regional priorities0*. 
(1) See Annex III for a presentation of the various instruments currently available in the 
field of international energy cooperation. 
SYNERGY will be integrated in the current set-up: 
• firstly, by launching operations which lead to projects financed by other 
Community programmes; 
• secondly, by carrying out projects of interregional or even global scope: 
training of energy decision-makers, creation of networks of agencies 
working on a common subject, conferences in various regions of the world 
on major topics, etc. 
Given that international energy problems are likely to become increasingly urgent 
in the coming decades, particularly as regards security of supply and 
environmental factors, the Community must have the means to act in accordance 
with its global energy strategy. 
(b) As regards the ends, SYNERGY can contribute to the development of the 
Community's energy strategy vis-à-vis non-member countries: 
• on the supply side, by establishing an on-going technical dialogue with 
producer countries, mobilizing the industrial circles concerned, discussions 
on the treatment and financing of investments and cooperation on transit and 
interconnections; 
• on the demand side, by promoting energy efficiency, transferring European 
experience in this area and setting up a structure for dialogue between 
European producers of energy equipment and users in non-member 
countries. 
(c) There will be close collaboration with other Community cooperation instruments. 
SYNERGY will involve the people responsible for these instruments in its 
deliberations on annual and multiannual programmes from the outset. 
Conversely, SYNERGY should be involved in the preparation of more specific 
multiannual operations under the other Community programmes. 
In particular, an interface will have to be defined between SYNERGY and the 
participation by Central European countries associated with the JOULE, 
THERMIE, SAVE and ALTENER programmes, not forgetting the activities 
under the PHARE programme. 
2. Subsidiarity 
The objectives envisaged by this programme can be achieved more efficiently at 
Community level than at national level. This is the case as regards improving Europe's 
image in these countries and strengthening its economic presence. Europe has greater 
weight in competing with the USA and Japan on these markets than the Member States 
individually. 
2.1 According to a recent study(2), the energy capabilities of Europe and most of its 
Member States are little known in Asia and Latin America in particular, while 
only the Community has sufficient prestige to be respected and accepted to 
contribute its experience to the restructuring of the energy sector. 
2.2 Action at the Community level is particularly justified in the field of international 
energy cooperation, since its aim is to realize the objectives cited earlier that are 
common to all the Member States. 
In addition, to the extent that these actions lead to the promotion of European 
technologies outside the Community, it is desirable to coordinate them in order 
to obtain the best possible results. 
2.3 Such a programme will also enable the Community to have a lasting presence at 
the level of political decision-making and in this way to influence energy and 
environmental choices, rather than restricting itself to isolated technical sectors. 
3. Efficiency 
3.1 The installation of a multiannual legal framework will permit the successful 
application of long-term measures: network creation, training, programme of 
conferences spread over several years in various parts of the world. 
It will also lead to the development of a multiannual action programme based on 
the guidelines and priorities agreed with the member countries, taking account 
of complementarities with other Community programmes and the activities of 
multilateral capital providers, while permitting speedy action. The effectiveness 
of individual Member States' action will thus be improved. 
3.2 The guidelines set out in the annual plans will enable international energy 
cooperation to be focused on certain selected themes with considerable impact 
on the achievement of the desired objectives. 
Creation of a programme like SYNERGY will not lead to duplication of effort 
with existing activities but, on the contraiy, it will contribute to consolidating and 
improving the Community's overall policy on international energy cooperation 
and to integrating it more effectively in the Community's external policy and 
energy policy as a whole. 
Consolidation and improvement 
By using what was set up in the pilot phase: collaboration with COPED, the 
international network of energy policy research institutions, present in two 
developed and four developing countries; follow-up to the Athens Conference 
on energy and the urban environment, follow-up to the Black Sea Conference 
(2) The development of energy resources in Latin America and Asia. Cooperation with 
Europe. Bernard Meunier and Didier Unverzagt (DG I). 
on new energy realities in the region; energy centres; regular contacts with the 
energy authorities of these countries, etc. 
• By permitting action at the initiative of the Community concentrating on specific 
objectives and benefiting from energy expertise. 
• By avoiding compartmentalization of action by geographic zone. 
• By using the new resources of the fourth RTD framework programme, more 
particularly the specific JOULE-THERMIE programme and the cooperation 
programme with non-member countries, which could be allocated to joint action 
on technological development, dissemination and the development of energy 
planning tools. 
• By leading to joint action or action financed by other instruments (PHARE, 
TACIS, economic cooperation with Asia and Latin America, MED A, etc.) or by 
bank loans (EIB, EBRD, ECSC, etc.). 
By permitting a response to the increase in energy demand from non-member 
countries characterized by energy saving, integration of renewable energy 
sources, particularly biomass, supply management and environment conservation. 
Finally, this programme should require few resources to produce major results. 
Integration 
• By making it possible to meet the needs of a global European energy strategy, 
rather than one based purely on priorities by geographical region. 
By adding an extremely flexible energy dimension to other Community policies 
in the field of international relations, the environment, employment, international 
cooperation on RTD as well as the common foreign and security policy. 
• By providing the framework for harmonization of energy policies, particularly 
with the associated Central and East European countries, which figures among 
the objectives of the association agreements. These agreements have already 
been drawn up in the spirit of future membership. 
• By contributing to the establishment of an energy dimension to the Euro-
Mediterranean partnership which should be launched at the Barcelona 
Conference. 
3.3 The existence of a stable instrument will permit the application of a 
medium-term policy and ensure the continuation of relations with the institutions 
of non-member countries, making SYNERGY the interlocutor for the 
international energy bodies and the producer countries in the area of energy 
policy. 
3.4 In the medium term, this legal framework would also provide the tools for 
possible cooperation measures in the event of an international energy crisis. 
THE BROAD LINES OF THE PROGRAMME 
As in the pilot phase, SYNERGY will continue to be dedicated to cooperation and 
assistance in the definition, formulation and implementation of energy policy by 
non-member countries, but with a medium-term strategy. 
The action taken under SYNERGY could be of relevance to all non-member countries 
facing energy problems, particularly the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the new 
independent States of the former Soviet Union, Mediterranean countries, the developing 
countries in Latin America and Asia and the countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the 
Pacific which have signed the Lomé Convention. 
Priority objectives will be defined as regards both the activities to be undertaken and the 
beneficiary countries in the form of a multiannual plan in the light of the broad lines of 
the Community's four policies with an energy dimension (international relations, 
environment, employment, research and technological development) and of the 
Community's energy strategy. 
Hence specific action plans will be drawn up every year in liaison and as a complement 
to: 
• other Community programmes and instruments; 
• Member States' activities in certain non-member countries; 
• needs expressed by Member States' industries; 
• needs expressed by the beneficiary countries. 
To take account of the various complementarities, these plans will be drawn up in 
interdepartmental consultation within the Commission, then submitted to an advisory 
committee of Member States' representatives, who will examine them and the periodic 
reports on implementation of the various programmes. 
It is therefore clear that SYNERGY, while making a new contribution to international 
energy cooperation, is not intended to become the exclusive vehicle for such cooperation, 
since SYNERGY operations will complement the energy strategies defined in the other 
Community and Member States' instruments. 
The cooperation measures will take the form of: 
• conferences promoting dialogue and exchanges of information and experience; 
• information dissemination (brochures, newsletters); 
• training activities (courses, seminars, technical visits); 
• secondment of European experts to non-member countries' institutions; 
• studies; 
• support to international networks reflecting and advising on energy policy; 
• support to the energy centres of non-member countries aiming to become 
self-sufficient and promotion of synergies with existing or planned structures: 
Eurocentre in Latin America, Technology Windows and Business Centres in Asia. 
SYNERGY could fund the whole of a specific project or part-finance projects together 
with another partner. 
The programme would run for five years and it is proposed to allocate ECU 50 million 
to it. 
Part of these resources will also be destined to cover temporarily the operating expenses 
of the Secretariat of the European Energy Charter Treaty. 
Indeed, given the Community's important role in negotiating this Treaty, the need to 
support the Secretariat and the delay in the signing of the Treaty by the USA, Community 
support, possibly in the form of an advance, cannot be excluded. 
The following table shows the main themes of SYNERGY operations and the 
corresponding priorities. 
THEMES CORRESPONDING MEANS 
PRIORITIES 
Enhancing Europe's image General Training, experts, conferences 
—.—_— i ' ' ' 
Supporting sustainable General Facilitating transfer of clean 
development in non-member technologies: seminars, technical 
countries visits 
Promoting dialogue with producer Security of supply Conferences 
countries 
Promoting a reduction in the Environment Training, audits, conferences, 
greenhouse effect and the diagnostic seminars, feasibility 
pollutants linked to consumption studies, energy centre activities 
in all sectors 
Promoting network Competitiveness and Feasibility studies, conferences 
interconnection security of supplies 
Promoting energy planning in Security of supplies Training, experts, studies, 
non-member countries and environment energy centre activities, 
development of strategies 
Promoting the integration of non- Security of supplies Training, studies, conferences, 
member countries and environment experts, energy centre activities 
These objectives will naturally be adapted to the situation of each region of the world. 
In the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, for example, the emphasis could be 
placed on reorganization of their production system and preparation of their membership, 
in Latin America and Asia the emphasis might be on the urban environment and 
transport, while in the Mediterranean region activities targeting energy integration and the 
urban environment might be more appropriate. 
ANNEX I 
NEW TRENDS IN THE WORLD ENERGY ECONOMY 
1. The world energy outlook in the coming decades has been the subject of studies both 
by the Commission and the International Energy Agency. These analyses revealed 
several probable developments: 
• a moderate growth in energy demand in the OECD countries, vigorous growth 
in the developing countries and low growth in the former Soviet Union; 
• particularly high growth in Asia and Latin America for both economic and 
demographic reasons, especially in the transport sector; 
• extremely high growth in the Mediterranean countries too, with particular 
problems for the coastal and urban environment; 
on the basis of existing energy resources, coal, oil and gas will maintain and 
consolidate their predominant position, particularly in China and South America, 
despite the attendant environmental problems; 
• C02 emissions are, as a result, likely to increase if there is no change in the 
political and regulatory situation. 
2. The Commission has also had several studies carried out on the energy outlook to the 
year 2020 which reveal, among other things, the following two trends: 
• world energy consumption is likely to double, mainly as a result of the trends in 
the developing countries; 
• despite the moderate growth in energy consumption, the decline in production in 
Europe is likely to be reflected in dependence of the order of 70% on imports for 
the Community in the year 2020. 
3. Non-member countries, for their part, are encountering energy problems specific to 
each region of the world: 
Central and Eastern Europe is faced with problems of infrastructure modernization, 
improvement of energy efficiency and environmental degradation. This region is also 
a transit zone for energy resources from the former Soviet Union destined to the 
European Community. 
The Republics of the former Soviet Union are facing the same problems as the 
countries of Central and Eastern Europe, with nuclear safety and the need for 
investments in the production sector and energy efficiency being particularly critical 
issues. These problems could also have repercussions on the political and social 
stability of those Republics which, in some cases (Russia, the Ukraine) could affect 
the supply situation in Europe. 
In general terms, the example of the Ukraine shows, as the conclusions of the 
Corfu Summit indicated, that decisions on nuclear safety must be examined in the 
context of the general energy policy of the countries concerned. 
The Mediterranean countries and other developing countries will be faced with a 
foreseeable increase in their energy consumption. 
In the case of the Mediterranean countries, the forecasts for 2020 suggest almost a 
threefold increase in energy consumption, including a fourfold increase in electricity 
consumption. A major production drive will be needed both to supply the home 
market and to maintain and step up exports to Europe. The forecast increase in 
demand for electricity will impose new requirements on transportation, production and 
consumption. 
For this reason, energy should be an important dimension of the new Euro-
Mediterranean partnership which should be launched at the Barcelona Conference. 
As for the other developing countries, in Asia and Latin America, their energy 
demand could more than double between 1991 and 2010, and their share in world 
energy consumption may reach 40% as compared with 27% in 1991. The 
International Energy Agency believes that two-thirds of the growth in energy 
consumption will be located in these countries in the coming years. 
Such a trend will have three major consequences given the low energy efficiency in 
these countries: 
• very substantial investment and hence financing requirements, at a time when 
public financial resources are limited or dedicated to other priorities, resulting in 
an appeal to the private sector and a reappraisal of the role of the State; 
tensions regarding supplies to the developed countries, in particular Europe; 
• environmental degradation effects: it is estimated that India and China alone 
may account for one-quarter of C02 emissions in 2010. 
4. It is appropriate to recall the conclusions of the Energy Council of November 1992 
regarding the broad outlines of cooperation on clean and efficient energy technologies 
with developing countries. 
These conclusions attached the utmost importance to the follow-up to Chapter 34 of 
Agenda 21 of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, which 
emphasized the primordial role of the transfer of environmentally sound technologies. 
In this context, special attention was to be paid to: 
• the progressive substitution of low carbon fuels for fossil fuels with a high 
carbon content, 
the development of clean combustion technologies; 
• the development of renewable energy sources; 
• the improvement of energy efficiency. 
The Community's accession to the Climate Change Convention designed to stabilize 
C02 emissions implies a commitment to intensify cooperation activities in these areas. 
The conclusions of the Berlin Conference on Climate Change in April 1995 
recommend initiating a process enabling emissions to be reduced from the year 2000. 
In this context, several developed countries have reached agreement on promoting 
measures to develop new technologies for the reduction of emissions. 
It appears that the industrialized countries, in addition to reducing their own 
emissions, must enter into cooperation with the developing countries to enable the 
latter to continue their development path while at the same time limiting any attendant 
increase in emissions of greenhouse gases. 
SYNERGY could thus provide the host structure for such activities by, among other 
things, creating specialized energy centres that would also be responsible for 
environmental protection and the establishment of partnerships. 
In parallel with the European Energy Charter, a Protocol on Energy Efficiency and 
Related Environmental Aspects was signed by 39 countries. This Protocol defines 
three objectives: 
• the promotion of energy efficiency policies; 
• the creation of a framework to promote the rational use of energy by producers 
and consumers; 
• increased cooperation in this area. 
The development of consumption in non-member countries will represent the opening 
up of new markets on both the supply and demand side, on which European industry 
must be present. In addition, the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and 
employment cites the development impetus of the trans-European transport and energy 
networks and their effects on reducing costs through the best utilization of existing 
capacities and improved security of supply. 
The "Communication on an industrial competitiveness policy for the European Union", 
for its part, identifies a number of areas in which industrial cooperation should be 
developed, including initiatives based on the European Energy Charter and the 
development of energy resources in non-member countries. 
Technological cooperation with non-member countries, particularly developing 
countries, and with the countries in economic transition, is destined to play a crucial 
role in the Community's RTD strategies in the energy field. Clean, 
environment-friendly technologies will make a substantial contribution to reducing 
total C02 emissions, of which these countries' share is on the increase. 
10 
8. International relations will thus have enhanced importance in the European Union's 
energy sector. 
The Commission stresses the importance of international cooperation as a means of 
ensuring security of supply and environmental protection in its Green Paper "For a 
European Union energy policy". 
International energy relations in turn are an important part of four Community 
policies: international political and economic relations, environment, employment and 
research and technological development. 
11 
ANNEX II 
SPECIFIC ACTION ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE 
ENERGY FIELD 
I. THE BALANCE 
1. Energy cooperation with non-Community countries began in 1980 as a means of 
dealing with the consequences of the second oil crisis. It began with appropriations 
ofECU650 000. 
2. The Council Resolution of 16 September 1986 concerning new Community energy 
policy objectives for 1995 and convergence of the policies of the Member States 
stated that the energy policy of the Community and the Member States should 
endeavour to achieve among its horizontal objectives: 
"(a) more secure conditions of supply and reduced risks of sudden fluctuations in 
energy prices through ... 
- geographical diversification of the Community's external sources of supply 
(h) the development of the Community's external relations in the energy sector by 
virtue of a coordinated approach, in particular on the basis of regular 
consultations between Member States and the Commission ..." 
The sums allocated to cooperation have been renewed and increased every year given 
the growing importance of the international aspects of energy problems. Budget 
provision in 1995 amounts to ECU 9 million. 
3. For two years now, all the activities initiated in this field have gone under the heading 
of SYNERGY to facilitate presentation and promotion. 
4. SYNERGY finances cooperation activities with non-Community countries in the field 
of formulation and implementation of energy policy to the mutual benefit of the 
two parties concerned. 
The operation of the Conference on the European Energy Charter and its Secretariat 
has also been financed by SYNERGY since 1990. 
Unlike the other cooperation programmes which are of a more general nature and 
include energy as one of several aims, SYNERGY is a specific energy policy 
programme. It is also a flexible programme, making very rapid action possible. 
SYNERGY can operate in any non-member country, which is an added advantage 
compared with the other Commission cooperation programmes and instruments with 
their limited geographical scope. It is therefore very easy to carry out a project 
covering both the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS with 
12 
SYNERGY, something which is more difficult under the PHARE and TACIS 
programmes, even though it can be done and, indeed, is done on an ad-hoc basis. 
Concerning, as it does, the formulation of energy policy, SYNERGY differs from the 
operations undertaken in non-member countries under other specific energy 
programmes such as THERMIE, which concerns measures of a technological nature. 
The main activities under the SYNERGY heading consist of: 
• facilitating and promoting dialogue between the Community, non-member 
countries and international organizations in the energy field (e.g. conference with 
the oil-producing countries of the Persian Gulf in Oman); 
• the creation of institutions capable of defining energy requirements in the 
countries concerned and of channelling the resources needed to meet these 
requirements (e.g. Energy Centres in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe 
and in Asia); 
the provision of advice to the national energy authorities (e.g. secondment to 
ministries of senior experts in energy policy); 
• assistance in the design of energy policy tools (e.g. energy planning, tariff 
policies, etc.) compatible with Community policy; 
• training/information for public authorities and economic operators (conferences, 
seminars, workshops, etc.); 
• studies and energy audits leading on to other operations financed by other 
Community programmes, in particular in the sphere of international economic 
relations; 
market studies and analyses of the barriers to the introduction of new 
technologies, in particular clean, environment-friendly technologies, as a 
preliminary to other programmes. 
Particular attention is devoted to transnational projects, not only where this involves 
joint action by the Member States and non-member countries (e.g. "Energy and urban 
environment in the Meditenanean countries" or "Network interconnection between 
Central and Western Europe"), but also in the case of projects involving several 
non-member countries (e.g. Black Sea energy centre, or energy cooperation between 
the MERCOSUR countries). 
While retaining its specific character, SYNERGY thus serves to complement other 
Commission programmes with an energy cooperation dimension. On the ground, this 
complementarity is translated by the implementation of joint activities with these 
programmes, with SYNERGY often providing the structure for overall coordination, 
e.g. SYNERGY - THERMIE - PHARE in the framework of the Budapest energy 
centre. Secondly, SYNERGY serves to promote dissemination, i.e. application of the 
principles enshrined in the European Energy Charter and the energy section of the 
association/cooperation agreements concluded between the Community and 
non-member countries (e.g. auditing of national energy legislation, legal/economic 
13 
training seminars for senior staff from ministries, companies and energy industries). 
In this respect, SYNERGY is an instrument of integration for future membership 
candidates. The Energy Charter and the abovementioned agreements also serve as an 
institutional framework for the SYNERGY operations. 
Finally, SYNERGY co-finances activities with international organizations, Member 
States and the national energy saving bodies. 
6. SYNERGY activities often target the energy demand side. However, if speedy action 
is required in a given country - a possibility which SYNERGY offers, thanks to its 
flexibility (e.g. action in Armenia and the Middle East) - action can also be taken on 
the supply side. A conference to promote dialogue between oil producers and 
consumers was therefore organized in Oman with the oil-producing countries of the 
Persian Gulf, and others are to be held in Tunis with the Mediterranean countries, and 
in Caracas with the Latin American producers. 
7. All of these activities were subjected to a preliminary evaluation in 1990, and ad hoc 
evaluations of training and energy planning operations have been carried out 
since then. 
The results of these evaluations were positive and included recommendations on ways 
of improving the effectiveness of the action. 
An evaluation of all the projects carried out from 1990 to 1994 inclusive has recently 
been the subject of an invitation to tender. The results of this evaluation should be 
available before the end of the year, and will be made available to the Council and 
Parliament. 
8. As SYNERGY concerns the formulation of energy policy, it is not easy to give results 
in the form of figures. Nevertheless, it is possible to state several positive effects of 
its activities. 
• SYNERGY helped to improve the difficult energy situation in certain 
non-member countries and contributed to their economic development. For 
example, it enabled the Polish Government to take the necessary decisions to 
restructure the oil sector. SYNERGY also provides advice to the Romanian, 
Slovenian, Albanian and Indian Governments and, more recently, to the 
Palestinian authorities, which it also helped in setting up their first energy 
institution. 
• SYNERGY contributed to the formulation by these countries of energy policies 
that take account of global problems, particularly regarding the environment. 
It also paved the way to a better understanding of energy problems, notably in 
the developing countries, and helped create an awareness of the need for efficient 
energy policies even in producer countries such as Mexico or Algeria. 
• It is a partner for non-member countries in their endeavours to achieve rational 
use of energy and to improve their energy efficiency through, among other 
things, the installation of "energy centres" (e.g. in India, China, Indonesia, 
Hungary and the autonomous Palestinian territories). This aspect is all the more 
14 
important as the international banking institutions have tended to finance energy 
production and transmission rather than energy savings as such. 
It helps open the door to European industry in non-member countries, whose 
needs it knows well having studied them in the context of its operations. China 
is a particular case in point in the field of "clean" combustion methods for coal. 
It provides improved information on the energy situation of these countries and 
better forecasts of the evolution of global energy problems. 
It ensures that the Community is represented in these regions and in this sector, 
and enables lasting contacts to be forged with regional cooperation organizations 
such as the Latin-American Energy Organization, ASEAN or the national energy 
saving committees. It thus contributes to maintaining relations in this field and 
to the implementation of the Community's energy strategy. 
SYNERGY can be an instrument to improve cohesion for future membership 
candidates in Central Europe. 
II. SOME PROJECTS FINANCED BY SYNERGY 
SYNERGY has enabled activities to be carried out on training, programming, 
consultancy, energy studies and audits, information and the setting-up of long-term 
institutions and the holding of several conferences. 
The activities described below are a representative selection of the action taken over the 
last three years, during which ECU 8 million per year have been committed to the 
programme. 
1. Training 
The European Union has contributed to a whole series of training courses for technicians 
and managers in non-member countries. 
That contribution by the European Union consists of helping to defray the overall cost 
of holding such courses, providing speakers and funding the attendance of a certain 
number of students. 
These activities are either targeted directly by the Union on subjects which seem 
particularly important or form part of a programme devised by the non-member countries. 
In the latter case involvement of the Union enables it to insist on topics which it 
considers important and to get to know those attending those courses better. By way of 
example the following activities may be mentioned: 
Latin America 
• Latin-American energy-saving course in Argentina. SYNERGY has enabled 88 
students from energy companies and administrations to attend such courses since 
1984. 
15 
• Energy planning courses to be held alternately in Europe and in another continent by 
European universities and Latin American countries. These were held in Latin 
America during three SYNERGY rounds, thus enabling 20 mainly European speakers 
to be involved, plus 31 Latin American students from energy administrations and 
utilities. 
Asia 
• Training of training officers in India and the ASEAN countries. 
• Training course on nuclear safety for Chinese experts held in Peking in September 
1992 and six-week training course for a Chinese expert in a European power plant. 
• Training course in China offering, in particular, training on energy in the environment 
and also the "clean" burning of coal. More than 3 000 persons concerned by energy 
decision making received courses on energy management and efficiency. 
Mediterranean 
• Training of Moroccan technicians in rational energy-use techniques and energy audit 
methods. 
East-European and former Soviet Union countries 
• A symposium jointly funded by the ADEME on energy policy based on the demand 
which could be generated in Eastern Europe was held in Grenoble in October 1992. 
Fifteen official representatives of eight East European countries(3) attended this 
symposium and were thus able to exchange views on a number of subjects linked with 
energy policy. The symposium mainly covered the following aspects. 
energy policies and bodies within the European Union and Eastern Europe; 
examples of energy-efficiency programmes conducted by the Commission; 
specific problems linked with the implementation of those programmes, and in 
particular customs duties and funding. 
• In order to help to restructure the coal industries in the Eastern European countries 
a workshop was held in Brussels on 18-21 October 1993, in cooperation with the 
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. It was attended by those 
responsible for coal in those countries - all in all 70, of whom 30 came from the 
East European countries. 
• Workshops on energy law and regulations in the former Soviet Union. Four three-day 
workshops held in Alma Ata, Moscow, Yerevan and Kiev between May and October 
1993. A new series of symposia have been in progress since 1994 in the other CIS 
republics. 
(3) Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia and 
the Ukraine. 
16 
• In order better to understand the European Union's energy policy and in order to get 
to know those to contact within the various help programmes (PHARE, TACIS, 
SYNERGY), SYNERGY held an information symposium in Brussels in March-April 
1994 for experts from Central and Eastern Europe and another for experts from the 
CIS. 
At world level 
• Nine-week course in Dakar, Senegal, in April-May 1993, on energy management and 
planning. 
2. Programming 
The main SYNERGY activities in this area were as follows: 
• Setting-up information systems with OLADE in Latin America, and ASEAN in South-
East Asia, and with Algeria. 
• Getting an international network of nine energy study and research centres up and 
running: the COPED network. 
• Mapping out energy programmes (Jordan, Ecuador, Peru, Thailand), international 
energy programming studies (Latin America, Maghreb), similar studies on a national 
basis (Cyprus), or a regional basis (the State of Buenos Aires in Argentina, State of 
Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, Province of Zheijian in China) or on an urban basis 
(China, India, Argentina, Poland, Hungary, Egypt, Turkey and Israel). 
3. Advice and assistance 
SYNERGY funds full-time experts within the energy ministries of non-member 
countries or energy centres in: 
• The self-governing Palestinian tenitories 
• Slovenia 
• Hungary 
• Romania and 
• Estonia 
• Albania 
Energy centres have also been established in Hungary and in the self-governing 
Palestinian territories. 
SYNERGY has also helped to set up an Energy Management Agency in Turkey. 
It has also helped to set up institutions such as the Jordanian Energy Authority, the 
Agency for the Rational Use of Energy (in Algeria), the ASEAN-EC Energy 
Management Training and Research Centre, the National Energy Institute in Ecuador 
and the Comision Nacional para el Ahono Energético in Mexico. 
SYNERGY also advises the East European countries in drawing up laws and 
regulations in line with (free) market economics. 
17 
4. International conferences 
• Conference entitled "Energy and urban environment in Mediterranean towns" held in 
Athens in November 1993, which brought together high ranking figures (ministers, 
Directors-General for Energy, ...) 
This conference led to a declaration and the formation of a follow-up committee that 
was responsible for identifying, preparing and supporting local "energy and 
environment" teams. The actual formation of "energy and environment" teams in some 
Mediterranean towns will be funded by SYNERGY. The twinning of these towns with 
EU towns will be funded by the MED URBS programme that is managed by DG I. 
• Oil and gas conference entitled "Links between the European Union and the 
Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council in a changing world" held in Oman 
on 19-20 April 1994. 
• Conference on "New energy realities in the Black Sea Area" held in Chalhidiki on 
30-31 May 1994. One of the consequences of that conference is that a joint energy 
centre is about to be set up between the countries in the Black Sea area and the 
European Union. 
• EUROMEX ENERGIA 93 conference held on 28-29 June 1994 that was organized 
jointly with the CONAE. Twenty six European undertakings attended that conference, 
which enabled more than 100 contacts to be made with Mexican partners, a quarter 
of which were able to go on to commercial, investment or cooperative agreements. 
• A conference on East-West links between the European gas and electricity grids was 
held in Budapest in October 1994 and was attended by 200 people. 
• Conference on the funding of energy projects in the Central European and former 
USSR countries, planned for Budapest in January 1995. 
5. Overall activities 
These are projects specifically targeted at different activities: studies, methodology or 
information transfer, symposia etc. 
By way of example: 
• Programme promoting CHP in three Latin American countries: Mexico, Chile and 
Peru. 
• Restructuring of the oil industry in Poland: advance studies, laying down the bases 
needed for liberalization, definition of a detailed organization and regulatory 
programme submitted to the Polish government, sectoral symposium and conferences 
held in Warsaw in April 1993. 
• Programme of energy saving assistance to Mexico, including training, energy 
diagnoses and the creation of data bases. 
18 
6. Energy audits and studies 
• Indo-EC bus: this is a mobile energy-audit unit in India which has conducted more 
than 100 audits revealing an energy saving potential of about 10%. 
• Energy bus for Indonesia: this programme completed its pilot stage in 1992, thus 
enabling energy audits to be carried out in companies in, in particular, the paper, 
textile and sugar industries. 
• Study on the energy consequences of Mercosur in Latin America. 
• Market study of the energy efficiency of Chile and the scope for European technology 
transfer. 
• Study of the electricity industry in the Ukraine intended to provide short-, medium-
and long-term electricity demand forecasts, to survey the scope for energy saving and 
to assess the cost of this in order to improve supply-deficit management. 
• SYNERGY has also funded several studies via the COPED network. Those studies 
have centred on the electricity sector over the last three years. 
19 
ANNEX ffl 
INSTRUMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL 
IN THE ENERGY FIELD COOPERATION 
P&^^ 
programme-
coopération 
• .Cominuttity:::;:::: m 
countries 
::^PBAmM:mïïm 
MbèÈÉË&mM 
EIJRATOM 
^we&€y:-y :•••%•••: 
:. EBRD E ;:. ;: ::: :;•:•; ••; 
New 
Mediterranean 
:::ppïlcy':V:::i-:::;;::\v.;-
C^nvention TYPE OF PROJECTS 
FINANCED 
Research and 
technological 
development projects, 
including 
demonstration activities 
Technical assistance 
and joint financing of 
investments 
Technical assistance 
Investments to improve 
nuclear power station 
safety and reliability 
Investments in the coal 
and steel industries 
Investments in all 
sectors, including 
energy 
- Protocols with 
individual countries 
- Regional cooperation 
Investments, training 
and technical assistance 
in all sectors, including 
energy REGION 
COVERED 
All non-
Community 
countries 
Countries of 
Central and 
Eastern Europe 
CIS 
Countries of 
Central and 
Eastern Europe 
+ former Soviet 
Union 
Countries of 
Central and 
Eastern Europe 
Countries of 
Central and 
Eastern Europe 
+ CIS 
Mediterranean 
70 African, 
Caribbean and 
Pacific countries DURATION 
OF 
PROGRAMME 
1994 - 1998 
Annual 
Annual 
1994-1998 
since 1990 
unlimited 
1992-1996 
1990-1995 BUDGET 
(MECU) 
540 
(total) 
1 100 in 
1994, of 
which 58 
for energy 
510 in 1992, 
of which 
130 for 
energy 
1 000 
200 
10 000 
2 940 
2 075 
12 000 FORM OF 
AID 
Subsidies 
Subsidies 
Subsidies 
Loans 
Loans 
3%share in 
the capital of 
the EBRD 
ED3 grants 
and loans 
(2 062) 
EIB grants 
and loans 
(1 800) 
Subsidies 
+ EIB loans 
(1 200) 
20 
EIB 
Cooperation 
with Asia and 
Latin America 
EC» 
JOULE/THER 
MIE 
SYNERGY 
SAVE 
ALTENER - Investments in all 
sectors, including 
energy 
-Investments in all 
sectors, including 
energy 
Capital investment, 
training and technical 
assistance in all 
sectors, including 
energy 
Part-funding of joint 
ventures in all sectors, 
including energy 
Research and 
technological 
development projects, 
including 
demonstration 
activities: non-nuclear 
energy 
Energy policy and 
strategy 
Rational use of energy: 
promotion, regulatory 
measures, information 
and exchanges 
Renewable energy 
sources: promotion, 
regulatory measures, 
information and 
exchanges Countries of 
Central and 
Eastern Europe 
Asian and Latin 
American 
countries 
Asia and Latin 
America 
All developing 
countries 
Community + 
non-member 
countries 
All non-member 
countries 
Community + 
non-member 
countries 
Community + 
non-member 
countries 1994-1996 
1993-1995 
1991-1995 
Annual 
1994-1998 
Annual 
1991-1995 
1993-1997 3 000 
750 
2 750 
40 
+ bank 
funding 
1 002 <*> 
8 in 1994 
35(4) 
50<*> Loans 
Loans 
Subsidy 
Interest-free 
loans 
Subsidies, to 
be 
reimbursed 
in the event 
of success 
Subsidies 
Subsidies 
Subsidies 
Subsidies 
N.B.: Unless stated otherwise, the amounts indicated are for the entire programme. 
(*) Total amount, including the Commumty. 
21 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
adopting a multiannual programme to promote international cooperation in the 
energy sector - SYNERGY programme 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular 
Article 235 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, 
Whereas the Community's accession to the European Energy Charter Treaty and the 
Convention on Climate Change commits it to cooperation in the energy field; 
Whereas according to the Green Paper "For a European Union energy policy" presented by 
the Commission international energy cooperation is essential owing to the increase in pollution 
due to the growth of consumption in the developing countries, the role of energy in the 
stability of society, whether in consumer or producer countries, the increasing energy 
dependence of the Community and the growth of world markets in production, transport, 
distribution and consumption technologies; 
Whereas this need for international energy cooperation can be satisfied by the creation of a 
cooperation and assistance programme on the formulation and implementation of energy policy 
in non-member countries; whereas in view of the Community's experience in this area and, 
in particular, of the steps it has taken since 1980, these activities should be based on a legal 
instrument capable of adjusting them to the various Community policies; 
Whereas the objectives of the programme envisaged cannot be attained, by reason of their 
wide-ranging nature, other than at a Community level; 
Whereas it is necessary to establish a multiannual framework for the activities carried out 
under the Community's international energy cooperation programme for the next five years; 
Whereas the objectives of the energy cooperation under the programme should be to promote 
sustainable development, to enhance security of supply and to improve energy efficiency; 
whereas effect may be given to such cooperation by the provision of grants for financing 
projects; 
Whereas such aid should be anchored in a multiannual indicative programme and annual 
programmes and may be the subject of agreements with the countries concerned or with 
international networks of study and research centres; 
22 
Whereas since the aid in question is external aid it is governed by the special provisions 
laid down in Title IX of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the 
European Communities(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2730/94(2); 
Whereas it is appropriate that the Commission be assisted, in the implementation of 
Community aid, by a committee made up of Member States' representatives; 
Whereas it is necessary to coordinate this programme with other activities of the Community, 
Member States, non-member countries and international institutions; 
Whereas the Treaty does not provide, for the adoption of this Regulation, powers other than 
those of Article 235 of the EC Treaty, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
A Community programme of assistance and cooperation with non-member countries in the 
field of the formulation and implementation of energy policy, hereinafter called "SYNERGY", 
is hereby adopted. 
Article 2 
SYNERGY shall be addressed to all non-member countries. 
Article 3 
1. SYNERGY shall be implemented from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2000. 
2. The budgetary authority shall determine the appropriations available for each financial 
year with due regard for the financial perspectives and budget discipline. 
Article 4 
1. The purpose of SYNERGY is to provide assistance and cooperation with the definition, 
formulation and implementation of energy policy for non-member countries in areas of 
mutual interest. 
2. The objectives of SYNERGY shall be in accordance with the detailed rules set out in 
Article 6, in particular. 
to promote sustainable development, notably by reducing emissions of greenhouse 
gases and of pollutants linked to energy consumption; 
to enhance the security of energy supplies; and 
to improve energy efficiency. 
(1) OJNoL356, 31.12.1977, p. 1. 
(2) OJ No L 293, 12.11.1994, p. 7. 
23 
These objectives shall be attained in accordance with the rules set out in Article 6. To 
that end, the Community may maintain relations with international organizations in the 
energy sector. 
3. In order to achieve the objectives referred to in paragraph 2, the Community shall 
contribute, in particular, to the financing of activities concerning: 
technical assistance and training; 
energy planning; 
the organization of conferences and seminars; 
the creation of institutions such as the energy centres. 
Funding shall also cover costs related to the preparation, implementation, monitoring and 
evaluation of these operations, as well as costs concerning information and its 
dissemination. Taxes, duties and the purchase of immovable property shall not be funded. 
No funding may be granted to research, development and demonstration projects. 
The programme's resources may also be used temporarily to support the operation of the 
Secretariat of the European Energy Charter Treaty. 
Article 5 
1. Community funding shall take the form of grants which shall be released in tranches as 
projects materialize. 
2. The grants may cover the whole of a specific project or supplement funding by 
Member States, non-member countries, international organizations or on the basis of 
another Community programme. 
3. Financing decisions and any contracts resulting therefrom shall expressly provide, 
inter alia, for acceptance by the beneficiaries of supervision by the Commission and the 
Court of Auditors, to be carried out on the spot if necessary. 
Article 6 
1. An indicative programme covering the period referred to in Article 3(1) shall be 
established in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8(2), without this being 
a multiannual budget commitment. 
This programme shall define the principal objectives, guidelines and priorities of 
Community assistance in the indicative areas referred to in Article 4(2). It shall indicate 
the objectives considered to have priority. 
The programme may be modified in accordance with the same procedure during the 
period of its application. 
24 
2. Action programmes based on the indicative programme shall be adopted each year in 
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8(2). 
These action programmes shall include a list of the main projects to be financed within 
the indicative areas referred to in Article 4(2). The content of the programmes shall be 
determined in detail so as to provide the Member States with the relevant information 
to enable the committee referred to in Article 8(1) to deliver its opinion. 
3. Specific agreements may be concluded with the non-member countries, in the framework 
and for the duration of the indicative programme referred to in paragraph 1, in order to 
define the main lines of cooperation with the countries concerned and the annual 
consultation procedures regarding the implementation of the programme. 
4. Contracts may also be concluded with international networks of study and research 
centres in order to define the contribution of these networks to the achievement of the 
objectives described in the indicative programme. 
Article 7 
1. The Commission shall implement operations in accordance with the annual programmes 
referred to in Article 6(2). 
2. Supply contracts shall be awarded by means of open invitations to tender, except in the 
cases provided for in Article 116 of the Financial Regulation. 
Service contracts shall, as a general rule, be awarded by restricted invitations to tender 
in conformity with Article 118 of the Financial Regulation. 
Negotiated contracts may be awarded for operations involving an amount of up to 
ECU 50 000. This amount may be revised by the Council on the basis of a Commission 
proposal, account being taken of experience gained in similar cases. 
Participation in invitations to tender and private contracts shall be open on equal terms 
to all natural and legal persons in the Member States and in the beneficiary non-member 
countries. 
Participation by natural and legal persons from other countries may be authorized by the 
Commission on a case-by-case basis if the programmes or projects concerned require 
specific forms of assistance specifically available in these countries, subject to reciprocity 
being granted by those countries. 
3. In the case of co-financing, the participation of undertakings from the non-member 
countries concerned in invitations to tender and contracts may be authorized by the 
Commission on a case-by-case basis. The Commission shall render account thereof in 
the report provided for in Article 10. 
25 
Article 8 
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an advisory nature composed of 
representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the 
Commission ("SYNERGY Committee). 
2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the 
measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft, within a time 
limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if 
necessary by taking a vote. 
The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have 
the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes. 
The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the 
Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been 
taken into account. 
3. The Committee may examine any question relating to the implementation of this 
Regulation which may be put to it by its chairman, possibly at the request of the 
representative of a Member State and, in particular, any question relating to general 
implementation, the administration of the programme, co-financing and the coordination 
referred to in Article 9. 
Article 9 
1. The Commission shall, together with the Member States, ensure the effective 
coordination of the technical assistance efforts undertaken in the beneficiary non-member 
countries by the Community and individual Member States on the basis of the 
information supplied by the Member States. 
2. Coordination and cooperation with the international financial institutions and other 
sources of funds shall be encouraged. 
3. The Commission shall examine the various ways in which co-financing involving the 
SYNERGY programme, the bilateral assistance of the Member States and other 
Community programmes might be promoted. It shall, in particular, ensure that any 
duplication of effort between SYNERGY and these other programmes is avoided. 
Article 10 
The Commission shall, by 30 June 1998, present a progress report on the implementation 
of the programme in the previous financial years. This report shall be addressed to the 
European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee. 
26 
Article 11 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication 
in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, For the Council 
The President 
27 
1. TITLE OF OPERATION 
SYNERGY (International cooperation with non-member countries in the energy sector) 
2. BUDGET HEADING INVOLVED 
B4.1041 Energy cooperation with non-member countries. 
3. LEGAL BASIS 
Proposal for a Council Regulation based on Article 235 of the Treaty. 
4. DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION 
4.1 General objective 
To promote cooperation in the formulation of energy policy with the following 
aims: 
• to promote sustainable development, notably by reducing emissions of 
greenhouse gases and of pollutants linked to energy consumption; 
• to enhance security of supply; 
• to improve energy efficiency. 
To this end, SYNERGY aims: 
• to advise the national energy authorities and help formulate energy policies 
compatible with those of the Community (studies, secondment of experts) 
• to support the creation of institutions capable of defining energy needs in 
non-member countries and of channelling the resources needed to satisfy these 
needs 
28 
to organize conferences and seminars designed to provide training and 
information for the public authorities and economic operators in these countries 
on European experience and technologies to bring together the people 
responsible for the energy sector in the Community and non-member countries; 
• to support the establishment of energy cooperation and policy institutions (for 
example, European Energy Centres). 
Particular attention is paid to transnational projects, not only between Community 
countries and non-member countries, but also to promote the energy integration of 
non-member countries. 
4.2 Period covered 
The operation will run for five years from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2000. 
The operation may be renewed at this point on the basis of a Council Regulation. 
5. CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE 
Non-compulsory expenditure - Differentiated appropriations 
6. TYPE OF EXPENDITURE 
Financing of studies, technical assistance and advice through the possible intermediary 
of experts, training and promotion activities, organization of conferences, seminars, 
workshops, technical and educational visits, support for energy cooperation or energy 
policy institutions and other activities in support of energy policy. 
6.1 100% subsidy 
In certain cases the Community can contribute up to 100%: 
to finance experts seconded full time to the authorities in non-member 
countries, action solely in the interest of the Community (preliminary studies, 
reconnaissance missions, European Energy Centres, etc.) or forming part of a 
broader programme funded by other sources and emergency measures. 
6.2 Subsidy for joint financing with other sources in the public and/or private 
sector 
Normally the Community will contribute not more than 50% of the total cost of the 
project and will fund projects jointly with non-member countries, the Member States 
or international organizations. 
29 
6.3 Interest subsidy 
Not applicable. 
6.4 Other 
Not applicable. 
6.5 Change in the level of revenue 
Not applicable. 
6.6 Reuse 
The cost of operation of the European Energy Charter will temporarily be borne by 
the budget for SYNERGY. 
Any sums reimbursed by the States which have signed the Charter will be reused. 
6.7 Commitment of expenditure 
The operations chosen will be included in a multiannual indicative programme 
setting out priorities and annual action programmes. 
The programmes will be submitted to an advisory committee of Member States' 
representatives for an opinion. 
Financing will be the subject of a contract between the Commission and the person 
responsible for or coordinating implementation of the operation funded. 
The following procedures apply to operations involving award of contracts: 
• supply contracts are awarded by open invitations to tender, except in the cases 
mentioned in Article 116 of the Financial Regulation; 
• service contracts are, as a general rule, awarded by restricted invitations to 
tender in conformity with the provisions of Article 118 of the Financial 
Regulation. 
In the event that the Commission co-finances a cooperation activity with a body 
from a Member State or a non-member country, the provisions of Article 118(4) of 
the Financial Regulation may apply, and the tasks of drawing up, negotiating and 
concluding the contract may be delegated to the beneficiary of the operation. 
30 
7. FINANCIAL IMPACT 
7.1 Method of calculating total cost of operation (definition of unit costs) 
Conferences: 
Energy centres: 
Studies: 
Seminars: 
Training: 
Resident experts: 
Implementation of Charter 
Other expenditure ECU 400 000 x 5 = 
ECU 300 000 x 5 = 
ECU 100 000 x 15 = 
ECU 100 000 x 10 = 
ECU 100 000 x 10 = 
ECU 150 000 x 5 = 2 000 000 
1 500 000 
1 500 000 
1 000 000 
1 000 000 
750 000 
I 000 000 
250 000 
7.2 Itemized breakdown of cost 
Conferences 
Energy Centres 
Studies 
Seminars 
Resident 
experts 
Training 
Implementation 
of Charter 
Other costs 
Total 96 
2 
1.5 
1.5 
1 
0.75 
1 
1 
0.25 
9 97 
2.5 
2 
1.5 
1 
1 
1 
0,5 
0.5 
10 98 
2.5 
2 
1.5 
1 
1 
1 
0,5 
0.5 
10 99 
2.5 
2 
1.5 
1 
1 
1 
0,5 
0.5 
10 2000 
2.5 
2.5 
1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
1 
0.5 
11 
7.3 The amount will be decided each year by the budgetary authority. 
The indicative amount available for commitments and payments (in million ECU) 
will be as follows: 
1996 
9 1997 
10 1998 
10 1999 
10 2000 
11 Total 
50 
31 
8. FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES 
The work is paid after its acceptance on the basis of a percentage set before award of the 
contract, and in the light of a final financial report on the operation. Documentary proof of 
travel and subsistence expenses may be required. 
The final payments will also be made subject to receipt of a technical report on the action 
taken. Officials from DG XVII or the delegations and independent experts will participate 
in seminars, conferences or courses to check the quality of the action and that it has really 
been taken. Regular evaluations are requested. 
Inspections will be carried out on the spot by staff from the Commission and the Court of 
Auditors. 
9. ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS 
9.1 Specific objectives 
• To disseminate, at conferences and seminars, the Community's experience and new 
technologies, particularly on rational use of energy, renewable energy sources and 
clean technologies. 
• To train the managers and decision-makers in the energy sector in modern 
technologies by participating in training courses and organizing technical visits. 
• To support the establishment and development of channels for cooperation, 
information and dissemination. 
• To bring together, at conferences, decision-makers in the public and private sectors 
in the Community and non-member countries and encourage partnerships. 
• To advise the national authorities by seconding experts, conducting specific energy 
planning studies making it possible to align legislation, to take account of Europe's 
environmental concerns and to manage energy resources more effectively 
throughout the world. 
Target population 
The ultimate beneficiaries are, in most cases, States and local authorities, public 
services, businesses and other organizations in non-member countries. 
The action is generally taken by Community institutions, bodies, businesses and 
individuals. In specific cases, authorities, businesses and individuals from non-member 
countries can also participate in implementing the action. 
32 
9.2 Grounds for the operation 
Action at Union level is justified for the following reasons: 
• The Union as such is designated as interlocutor with non-member countries in 
contexts such as G-24 or agreements concluded with some non-member countries 
which explicitly include energy in their scope. 
• Action at Union level will make it possible to complete the measures taken at the 
level of Member States and to strengthen their impact. 
• The European Union can represent better the interests of the Member States as a 
whole. 
Action at Union level will make it possible to use the expertise available in the 
various Member States. 
To ensure complementarity with the other programmes of the Community or the 
Member States, internal interdepartmental consultations will be held and an advisory 
committee will be set up with the Member States. The special committee will be 
responsible for international relations and energy alike. 
9.3 Monitoring and evaluation of the operation 
Performance indicators selected 
As SYNERGY is a programme of cooperation in formulating energy policies, it is 
difficult to determine quantitative indicators of its impact short of attributing all energy 
efficiency gains in some countries solely to the SYNERGY programmes. Furthermore, 
action relating to energy policy influences production or consumption figures only in 
the medium or long term. 
Nevertheless, it is possible in some cases to quantify the dimension of the operations 
carried out: number and level of participants in courses, seminars and conferences, 
number of commercial contacts made during a conference, expected results, e.g. 
percentage reduction in energy consumption in certain sectors, etc. 
Details and frequency of planned evaluations 
During the pilot phase, the SYNERGY programme is the subject of periodic evaluation 
by an independent expert every five years on average; the last took place in June 1990. 
It highlighted several positive aspects of the programme at that time: the development 
of energy planning bodies, the full-time secondment of European experts paid from the 
programme to the authorities in various non-member countries, training, a number of 
studies and various aspects of the work of the COPED network. 
33 
However, the evaluation also made a number of recommendations: 
concentrate on projects which can lead to tangible measures, development of the 
institutions already set up in non-member countries to deal with energy policy and 
energy efficiency, provide assistance for the establishment of institutions of this 
type where none have yet been set up, training and organization of seminars, 
preferably on a regional scale; 
reduce the number of studies and make sure that they are on subjects of interest 
to the Community and on specific energy policy issues; 
ensure better dissemination of the results of the programme; 
as regards management of the programme, adopt general objectives for the 
programme in the form of a three-year plan and monitor implementation of the 
plan as well as each individual project in relation to the original terms of reference 
and conduct regular analyses of the programme by country and type of activity; 
improve coordination and the flow of information with other Commission 
departments and instruments; 
inform the Member States and step up joint funding with them. 
Most of these recommendations have been acted upon in the meantime, particularly the 
recommendations on the priorities of the programme. 
It was hard to implement the recommendations on programme management and 
information for the Member States in the form of action based on a single budget 
heading and, hence, simply on an annual programme. This proposal for a Regulation 
includes procedures to implement these recommendations too. 
Another evaluation was launched recently concerning all operations financed for the 
budget years 1991 to 1994 inclusive. The corresponding invitation to tender has been 
published in the Official Journal. 
The guidelines for this evaluation are to analyse the contents and objectives of the 
programmes financed in order to determine the extent to which these objectives fit in 
with energy policy and have been achieved. 
The evaluation must also examine: 
• past and present guidelines of the programme in order to see where improvements 
can be made; 
relationships between the means employed and the results obtained; 
• actual and potential complementarities between these programmes and the other 
existing instruments. 
34 
The evaluation report should be available by the end of the year. An interim report at 
least should be published while this proposal is being considered by Parliament and the 
Council. In any event, the recommendations made in the final report will be taken into 
account when the time comes to prepare the multiannual programme provided for in 
Article 6 of this proposal for a Regulation. 
The Directorate-General for Energy also has a Programme Evaluation Unit which can 
examine any elements it considers necessary. 
In addition, the beneficiary States express their general assessment of energy 
cooperation with the European Union in the various consultation bodies provided for 
in the cooperation agreements: joint committee, joint assembly, etc. 
The legal basis presented also provides for account to be taken of the opinions of 
Member States and of European businesses, and of an annual report by 
the Commission. 
An evaluation for 1996 to 2000 will be submitted before eventual renewal of the 
programme. 
10. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE 
The annual decisions taken by the Commission will ensure that the administrative resources 
required are effectively made available, taking account, in particular, of any extra staff and 
funds granted by the budgetary authority. 
10.1 Impact on the number of staff 
Type of post 
Officials A 
or B 
temporary C 
staff 
Other resources 
Total Staff to be assigned to 
management of the 
operation 
Permanent 
staff 
6 
2 
5 
13 Temporary 
staff 
2 
2 seconded 
national 
experts 
2 suppliers 
of services 
6 Of whom 
Existing 
resources 
within the 
department 
concerned 
8 
2 
5 
2 
2 
19 Additional 
resources Duration 
In the case of additional resources, indicate the rate at which they will have to be provided. 
35 
10.2 
10.3 Overall financial impact of the additional human resources 
Not applicable. 
Increase in other operating expenditure generated by the operation 
(Ecus) 
Budget heading Amount Method of calculation 
(number and title) 
Cost of meetings 46.200 Two meetings per year with two 
delegates per Member State, 
based on an average of ECU 770 
per delegate (travel expenses 
only) 
Total"] 46.200 
The amounts correspond to the total expenditure on the operation in the case of operations of 
limited duration and to expenditure over 12 months in the case of operations of indefinite 
duration. 
36 
IMPACT ASSESSMENT FORM 
IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL ON BUSINESS 
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED 
ENTERPRISES (SMEs) 
TITLE OF PROPOSAL: 
Regulation concerning international cooperation in the energy sector (Synergy programme) 
REFERENCE NO: 
2444-2 
THE PROPOSAL: 
1. Taking account of the principle of subsidiarity, why is Community legislation 
necessary in this area and what are its main aims? _ 
See point 2 of the explanatory memorandum. 
THE IMPACT ON BUSINESS: 
2. Who will be affected by the proposal? 
Aid solely with opening up new markets in non-Member countries or businesses in the energy 
sector. 
-are there particular geographical areas of the Community where these businesses are found? 
No 
3. What will business have to do to comply with the proposal? 
4. What economic effects is the proposal likely to have? 
-on employment 
-on investment and the creation of new businesses 
-on the competitive position of businesses 
5. Does the proposal contain measures to take account of the specific situation of 
small and medium-sized firms (reduced or different requirements, etc.)? 
CONSULTATION 
6. List the organisations which have been consulted about the proposal and outline 
their main views. 
None. 
37 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(95) 197 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 12 11 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-241-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-89275-7 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 
38