it '•* 
•K \* COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels,06.05.1996 
COM(%) 194 final 
95/0126 (CNS) 
Amended proposal tor a 
COUNCIL REGULATION ŒO 
adopting a muitiannual 
programme to promote international cooperation in the energy sector - Synergy 
programme 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2) 
of the EC-Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
The Commission presented on 6 September 1995 a proposal for a Regulation 
adopting a mentionnai programme to promote international co-operation in the 
energy sector. 
The Parliament delivered its opinion on 15 April 1996. 
The Parliament's main concerns meet those of the Commission and amendments 
adopted reinforcing the initial proposal. Therefore they have been accepted by 
the Commission. 
Only two amendments which question the competence of the delegation to the 
Commission have been rejected. 
The Commission presents the attached modified proposal which takes into 
consideration most of the amendments adopted by the Parliament. 
^1 
Modified proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) adopting a muitiannual 
programme to promote international cooperation in the energy sector - Synergy 
programme (COM(95)0197 - C4-0432/95 - 95-0126 (CNS)) 
The modifications to the previous Commission's proposal as presented hereafter 
(references of recitals and articles are those of the previous proposal) are 
approved 
Commission text Modifications 
Recital -1 (new) 
Whereas, for reasons of security of 
supply. the protection of the 
environment. 
sustainable the objective of 
competitiveness development and the 
of the Community's 
industries. energy matters must be an 
important element in the Union's 
international activities; 
Recital 1a (new) 
Whereas the conclusions of the 
Council of Ministers of Development 
and Cooperation of 18 November 1992 
on the guidelines for cooperation 
with the developing countries for 
clean and efficient energy technology 
stressed that an essential objective 
of energy cooperation with all 
developing countries was the 
implementation of effective 
policies: energy 
Recital 
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 consunrpt i on 
technologies; Whereas, as stressed in 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 consunrpt i on 
technologies; 
Recital 2a (new) 
Whereas the Community is engaged in 
international energy activities under 
various programmes and whereas. to 
ensure that these activities are 
complementary. 
coordinated within they should be 
energy policy cooperation a programme for 
with non-
member countries; 
Recital 
Whereas this need for international 
energy cooperation can be satisfied 
by the creation of a cooperation and 
assistance programme on_ the 
formulation 
energy policy and implementation of 
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, as part of an overall 
Community energy strategy towards 
non-mêmber countries. taking into 
account the variety 
facing of problems 
them. this need for 
energy cooperation can 
by the creation of a international 
be satisfied 
such a programme; whereas in view of 
the Community's experience in this 
area and, in particular, of the pilot 
schemes it has undertaken since 1980. 
the in development of renewable 
energy sources in accordance with the 
objectives of the Alfener programme 
and initiatives such as the Madrid 
Declaration and action plan of March 
1994, the Souse Declaration of 
January 1995, the Tunis and Athens 
Euromediterranean Conferences and the 
MEDA programme submitted at the 
November 1995 Barcelona 
the legal instrument Conference. 
on which this 
programme is based should allow all 
international 
particularly energy activities 
those in the fields of 
renewable energy sources and energy 
efficiency 
a consistent. to be incorporated into 
adjusted 
policies; 
objective long-term strategy and 
to the various 
whereas the 
would Community 
principal 
be to establish 
methods of rational energy use and 
make use of renewable 
whenever possible; energy sources 
Recital 3a 
Whereas this programme coordinates 
the Community's other measures in the 
energy sector; whereas there must 
therefore be no duplication with 
other Community programmes such as 
PHARE!" TACIS. MEDA. INCO-COPERNICUS. 
ALURE or the 4th (later 5th) 
Framework programme for research; 
whereas ail duplication with 
programmes of the Member States, non-
Member States and international 
organizations must also be avoided; 
Recital 
Whereas the objectives of the 
programme envisaged cannot be 
attained, by reason of their wide-
ranging nature, other than at a 
Community level; Whereas the principal objectives of 
the programme. particularly the 
coordination of the various 
programmes of international measures 
and the development of an overall 
energy strategy. by reason of their 
wide-ranging nature, can be attained 
in the best possible manner at a 
Community level; 
Recital 5a (new) 
Whereas according to the Commission's 
Green Paper "For a European energy 
policy" political and trade relations 
are essential components of energy 
policy. and accordingly the 
Community's international energy 
be cooperation measures should 
integrated more effectively in its 
external policy and energy policy as 
a whole. 
Recital 6a (new) 
Whereas the Community's 
international energy 
should stress the policy for 
cooperation 
element of 
interdependence with 
partners. its third 
Recital 10 
Whereas it is necessary to coordinate 
this programme with other activities 
of the Community, Member States, non-
member countries and international 
institutions; Whereas it is necessary to coordinate 
the international activities of the 
Union in the 
part i cul arl y energy field 
t hose concerm ng renewable energy sources and energy 
efficiency - with those of the Member 
States, non-member countries and 
international institutions; 
Recital 10a (new) 
Whereas this programme must be 
subject to a mid-term and a final 
assessment carried out bv independent 
experts in accordance with the 
provisions of Article 10; 
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. A Community programme of cooperation 
with non-member countries in the 
field of energy policy, hereinafter 
called 'Synergy', is hereby adopted. 
Article 
SYNERGY shall be addressed 
non-member countries to all SYNERGY shall be addressed to all 
non-member countries and first and 
foremost those countries and regions 
included in the priorities of the 
Community's external relations 
terms of its political. in 
security of 
energy supply and economic interests. 
Article 4(1) 
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. 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. 
It shall make a contribution 
formulation and coordination 
non-member countries. to the 
of the 
Community's energy strategy towards 
Article 4(2) 
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., 
- the safety of power generation plant. 
To that end, the Community may 
maintain relations with 
international organizations in the 
energy sector. 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 by 
encouraging in particular the 
rational use of energy. the clean 
combustion of fossil fuels, renewable 
energy sources. combined energy/heat 
production and use of waste heat from 
industry; 
-to devise integrated initiatives 
involving the selection and 
implementation of projects relating 
to the development of renewable 
energy technologies in 
regions and locations in specific 
order to 
demonstrate how effective they are in 
improving the gualitv of life; 
-to create networks specializing in 
the development and implementation 
renewable energy technologies; of 
of energy 
to improve energy efficiency, to enhance the security 
supplies, and 
To that end, the Community shall 
maintain intensive relations with 
international organizations in the 
energy sector. 
Article 4(3) 
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 
seminars. of conferences and 3. In order to achieve the 
objectives referred to in paragraph 
2, the Community shall contribute, in 
particular, to the financing of 
activities concerning: 
-energy planning, 
-the creation of institutions 
the energy centres, such as 
-technical assistance and training, 
-the creation of institutions 
the energy centres. such as 
Funding shall 
related to 
implementation, 
evaluation of 
well as costs 
and its dissemination. 
and the purchase also cover costs 
the preparation, 
monitoring and 
these operations, as 
concerning information 
Taxes, duties 
of immovable 
property shall not be funded. 
No funding may be granted to 
research, development and 
demonstration projects.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. -the organization 
seminars. of conferences and 
Funding shall 
related to 
implementation, 
evaluation of 
well as costs 
and its dissemination 
and the purchase also cover costs 
the preparation, 
monitoring and 
these operations, as 
concerning information 
Taxes, duties 
of immovable 
property shall not be funded. 
The programme's resources may also be 
used temporarily to support the 
operation of the Secretariat of the 
European Energy Charter Treaty. 
Article 
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 
bei ng MZL without this 
nul t i annual 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. 6(1) 
1. 
the 
3(1) An indicative programme covering 
period referred to in Article 
is established, in the Annex. 
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 provide for 
the possibility for 
emergency operations as conducting 
called for by 
t he Communi tv's political 
commitments. 
Article 6(4) 
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. 4. Contracts 
within the may also be concluded 
framework of the 
muitiannual indicative programme set out in the annex, with international 
networks of study and research 
centres in order to define the 
of these networks to the 
of the objectives 
in the indicative contribution 
achievement 
described 
programme. 
Article 7(2), third subparagraph 
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. Negotiated contracts may be awarded 
for operations involving an amount of 
up to ECU 50 000. 
Article 7(2), fifth subparagraph 
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. Participation by natural and legal 
persons from other countries may be 
authorized by the Commission on a 
case-by-case basis for the duration 
of operations financed by_ the 
resources earmarked for these 
measures if the programmes or 
projects concerned require specific 
forms of assistance specifically 
available in these countries, subject 
to reciprocity being granted by those 
countries. 
Article 
3. The Commission shall examine the 
various ways in which co-financing 
involving the SYNERGYprogramme, 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. 9(3) 
3. The Commission shall examine the 
various ways in which co-financing 
involving the SYNERGYprogramme, the 
bilateral assistance of the Member 
States and other community programmes 
might be promoted. It shall, in 
particular, ensure both coordination 
and complementarity between the 
assistance for the beneficiary non-
member countries provided by SYNERGY 
and the other Community instruments 
for international cooperation in the 
energy field in order to avoid any 
duplication of effort. 
Article 10 
1. Each year the Commission shall 
inform the European Parliament 
regarding the implementation of the 
SYNERGYprogramme in the course of 
the preceding year. with a view to 
determining what progress has been 
made in the pursuit of a 
comprehensive energy strategy and 
what degree of coordination has been 
achieved with other programmes and 
measures of the Community. Member 
States, and non-member countries. 
The Commission shall, by 30 June The Commission shall present an 
1998. present a progress report on interim report by 31 December 1999 
the implementation of the programme and, by 31 December 2001. a final 
in the previous financial years. This report on thé implementation of the 
report shall be addressed to the programme in the previous financial 
European Parliament, the Council and years and the impact thereof in non-
the Economic and Social Committee. member countries and Member States. 
accompanied by the external 
assessment by independent experts on 
which it is based. This report shall 
be addressed to the European 
Parliament, the Council and the 
Economic and Social Committee. 
The interim report shall be taken 
into account by the budgetary 
authority when evaluating the 
continuation of the funding within 
the annual budgetary procedure. 
ANNEX (new) 
INDICATIVE ACTION PROGRAMME 
In the implementation of the Synergy 
programme and in the drawing up of 
the annual action programmes, the 
following guidelines all be taken 
into account. 
The tasks of Synergy are to help 
achieve the Community's energy 
objectives as set out in the 
Commission's White Paper 'For a 
European Union Energy Policy': 
• global competitiveness, 
• security of supply, 
• the environment. 
Each of these objectives has a 
sizeable external component, as is 
made clear in the Green Paper. 
Synergy will implement energy policy 
according to its own logic. It also 
has to be complementary with 
international cooperation activities 
being conducted elsewhere in the 
Community. 
The Synergy guidelines for 1996-2000 
have been drawn up on that basis. 
I. AREAS OF COOPERATION LINKED TO 
THE COMMUNITY'S ENERGYSTRATEGY 
(a) Activities pursuant to the three 
objectives: 
• devising an energy policy for an 
enlarged Union; 
• encouraging energy efficiency in 
non-Community countries; 
• developing local and, in 
particular, renewable energy 
sources; 
• encouraging regional energy 
integration; 
• action to promote consistency in 
the implementation of Community 
programmes in specific regions 
(e.g. the Black Sea, the 
Mediterranean, the Gulf); 
• action to encourage dialogue in 
respect of energy and South-South 
trade. 
(b) Global competitiveness: 
• support for European technology 
and undertakings to penetrate key 
markets in the energy sector in 
particular Asia and Latin 
America. 
(c) Security of supply: 
• dialogue with energy producing 
and exporting countries: 
Arabian/Persian Gulf, Russia, 
producer countries in America, 
Asia and Africa; 
• encouraging dialogue between the 
European Community and the energy 
transit countries and the transit 
and producer countries in 
particular, by helping implement 
the provisions of the Treaty on 
the European Energy Charter; 
• participation in and support for 
the work of international bodies 
in this sector: ministerial and 
producer/consumer conferences, 
International Energy Agency; 
• support for the execution and 
financing of the investment that 
is needed in non-Community 
countries in the production and 
transit of energy, in particular 
by helping implement the Treaty 
on the European Energy Charter; 
• support for the liberalization 
and opening up of the energy 
sector, helping draw up non-
Community countries' energy 
policies in this new situation. 
(d) The environment: 
• Training decision-makers and 
staff in the energy industry of 
non-Community countries in 
environmental awareness; 
• the transfer of European energy 
and environmental techniques, 
experience and information; 
• encouraging clean technology, in 
particular for the combustion of 
coal in major consumers like 
China, taking the implications 
for energy policy into account; 
• strengthening and supporting 
efforts to have environmental 
aspects taken into account in 
non-Community countries' energy 
policy and planning; 
• helping improve nuclear safety in 
existing plant in Central and 
Eastern Europe and in the CIS. 
• encouraging and helping non-
Community countries to plan 
sustainable national energy 
policies and devising energy 
supply concepts in keeping with 
each different environmental 
situation. 
II. GEOGRAPHICAL PRIORITIES AND 
COMPLEMENTARI TY W TH THE 
COMMUNI TY" S I NTERNATI ONAL 
COOPERATIOrPROGRAMMES 
(a) Role and objectives: 
Synergy has a leading role in 
international relations in the energy 
field. 
It will thus promote energy 
cooperation in relations with non-
Community countries and will have its 
energy objectives taken into account 
in the external cooperation 
activities carried out by other 
Community programmes (Objective 1). 
Synergy will also help non-Community 
countries who are major producers or 
consumers of energy to implement 
energy policies compatible with the 
Community's and strengthen dialogue 
10 
and cooperation with those countries 
(Objective 2). 
Synergy will also ensure that the 
projects it finances in pursuance of 
its energy objectives do not conflict 
or corrpet e with Corrrrunity 
international cooperation activities. 
Synergy's complementarity to other 
Community cooperation instruments is 
reflected in the fact that Synergy 
will allow the emergence and 
preparation of energy projects 
financed by other Community 
cooperation instruments(Objective 3). 
(b) Geographical Priority areas 
To obtain these objectives, Synergy 
will concentrate on the geographical 
priorities in the Community's 
external relations and will help 
achieve certain of the priorities in 
those relations. 
The priority areas for Synergy action 
are listed below, with the related 
objective of that action (in 
brackets): 
• Central and Eastern Europe, 
cooperation to prepare for the 
accession of the associate 
countries, including the 
approximation of the legislative 
frameworks for energy policy and 
the linking of networks 
(Objective 3); Former Yugoslavia 
(Objective 1); 
• Former Soviet Union (Objectives 2 
and 3); 
• Mediterranean countries, in 
conjunction with Arabian/Persian 
Gulf producer countries 
(Objectives 2 and 3); Palestinian 
territories (Objective 1); 
• Latin America: Mercosur and its 
member countries, Chile and 
Mexico (Objectives 2 and 3); 
Venezuela will also be a 
preferential partner but in 
respect of energy strategy 
(Objective 2); 
• Asia: China, India and ASEAN 
(Objectives 2 and 3); 
• Africa: specifically South Africa 
with, in particular, support for 
developing its relations with the 
other African countries 
(Objective 1). 
11 
(c) Emergency action 
Synergy may also initiate any action 
required by sudden developments in 
the international situation. 
III. FUNDING SYNERGY 
(a) Reference amount 
The reference amount for setting the 
attached table for the entire 
duration of the programme shall be 
ECU 50 m. 
This amount shall not affect the 
powers of the budgetary authority. 
(b) Apportionment of funds 
The table which follows translates 
into financial terms (percentage) the 
guidelines described according to the 
activities corresponding to the 
objectives set and broken down by 
geographical priority areas. It is 
for guidance and does not constitute 
a commitment in respect of the 
allocation of funds. Some activities 
may relate to more than one area: 
thus energy efficiency and the. 
development of local resources may 
both involve the promotion of 
European undertakings. 
This apportionment shall apply for 
the entire duration of the programme. 
12 
Indicative (Amendment 26 (continued) 
apportionment of appropriations (%) by type of action and implementation regions 
Type of activity 
Producer-
consumer 
dialogue 
Increasing 
energy 
efficiency and 
use of 
renewables 
Developing local 
resources and 
concepts 
i Preparing 
adhesion 
Integration 
Promoting 
technologies and 
undertaking 
Training and 
advice for 
decision-makers 
Nuclear safety 
Other evaluation 
Total General or 
inter­
regional 
4 
. 
1 
3 
3 
11 Prioritv regions 
Central and 
Eastern 
European 
countries 
5 
4 
6 
3 
2 
20 Former 
Soviet 
countries 
5 
8 
1 
4 
3 
3 
24 Mediterranean, 
Arab/Gulf 
countries, 
Palestinian 
territories 
5 
10 
1 
1 
3 
20 Asia 
2 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
7 Latin 
America 
2 
2 
1 
2 
2 
9 Africa 
1 
3 
1 
2 
2 
9 Total 
4 
20 
29 
6 
8 
10 
14 
6 
3 
100 
13 -
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 194 final 
UMENTS 
EN 12 11 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-203-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-03505-X 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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