EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/79

(2004/C 78 E/0078)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2120/03

by Isabelle Caullery (UEN) to the Commission

(25 June 2003)

Subject: Development of renewable energy sources in Moldova

1. Can the Commission inform us of the various types of aid, measures, programmes and/or budget lines that can be used to promote the development of renewable energy sources, particularly wind energy, in Moldova, bearing in mind that the country depends on oil and gas imports for 99 % of its energy supplies?

2. Can the Commission also tell us what facilities are offered by the EIB to promote this type of energy in Moldova, as well as in Romania and Bulgaria?

3. Does the Commission take the view that the last two countries, which are in line for EU membership in 2007, should internalise the objective of the European directive whereby by 2010 12 % of the energy used in Europe will be from renewable sources?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

The main programme for providing financial assistance to Moldova is Tacis. This programme offers technical assistance on the basis of shared values and priorities agreed with the partner countries concerned. Currently, Tacis is not engaged in activities directed to support the development of renewable energy resources in Moldova, since they have not been identified among national priorities.

Tacis is, however, engaged in the development of the energy market and resources through the Inogate regional programme, whose activities cover Moldova.

In addition, Moldova is an observer in the dialogue on Regional Electricity Market in South East Europe that is organised by the Commission. This provides a forum in which Moldova can learn from the experience of other countries on how to ensure balanced approach to energy production.

Finally, the multi-annual programme Intelligent Energy for Europe (IEE), covering the period 2003-2006, is open to Candidate Countries and includes also a domain, called Coopener, which is devoted to cooperation with third countries. At present, however, a final decision has yet to be made regarding possible beneficiary countries.

European Investment Bank (EIB) loans and projects are not open to Moldova. However, in Moldova this type of activity could be financed through European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) loans. Bulgaria and Romania do benefit from EIB loans under the general lending mandate for Central and Eastern European countries, guaranteed by the Community budget, and under the three-year Pre-Accession Facility, which is not covered by the Community guarantee. The EIB is interested in increasing support for investments in renewable energy, including wind energy. Its aim is to at least double its loan volume (individual and dedicated global loans) for renewable energy between 2002 and 2007.

The objective of achieving a 12 % contribution from renewable energy sources to overall energy consumption in the Union was included in Commission White Paper from 1997 (1). The Directive 2001/77/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market (2) is part of the ‘acquis’ to be implemented by Romania and Bulgaria before accession. Both countries have been regularly encouraged to enhance the use of renewable energy and to define national indicative targets, consistent with the global indicative target of 12 % of gross national energy consumption by 2010.

(1) COM(97) 599 final.

(2) OJ L 283, 27.10.2001.