WRITTEN QUESTION E-1118/01 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Energy security.
Date: 2001-04-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Russia, energy policy, energy supply, gas pipeline, import (EU), oil pipeline, security of supply

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/209

(2001/C 318 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1118/01

by Esko Sepp(cid:228)nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 April 2001)

Subject: Energy security

Over the next ten years, the EU(cid:146)s dependence on other countries for its energy will grow. In particular it
will be increasingly dependent on Russia and its neighbouring regions for gas imports. What plans does
the Commission have concerning oil and gas imports from these areas and does the Commission have
a view on which regions the oil and gas pipelines should be routed through?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2001)

The fact that the Community(cid:146)s energy supply is increasingly dominated by imported fossil fuels was a major
reason for the publication in November 2000 of the Commission(cid:146)s Green Paper on the security of energy
supply (1). Currently, as the Commission notes in its Green Paper, oil accounts for 41 % of current
Community energy demand, gas 22 %, coal 16 %, nuclear 15 % and renewables 6 %. Over the next 20-30
years, assuming current trends continue, the share of gas will rise significantly to 29 %, while oil will be
around 38 %, coal 19 %, nuclear 6 % and renewables 8 %. Over the same period, energy imports into the
Community are due to increase from around 50 % of today(cid:146)s energy consumption to 70 % over the next
20-30 years. Dependence on oil imports could rise from 80 % to over 90 %, gas imports could increase
from 40 % to 66 % (70 % in an enlarged Community) and dependence on imported coal could be almost
complete.

As far as gas is concerned, demand in the Community is currently growing strongly due, in large part, to
the increase in the use of gas for electricity generation. This, coupled with the forecast reduction in
domestic gas production, has implications for the future security of
the Community(cid:146)s gas supply.
Russia currently provides 41 % of all gas imports into the Community and is the main supplier, followed
by Algeria (29 %) and Norway (25 %). Russian gas supplies satisfy 17 % of current total Community gas
demand. It is forecast that, by 2020, gas imports from Russia could cover 38 % of Community gas
demand. Russia has been a reliable supplier of natural gas to the Community for some time and the
Commission is confident that Russia will continue to fulfil its commitments to the Community as in the
past.

the
In addition to the need for energy efficiency measures and new alternative energy sources,
Commission(cid:146)s Green Paper underlines the importance for the Community of ensuring flexible, reliable
and diversified external sources of supply. An important aspect of this is deepening the dialogue with all
energy producing countries and extending it to cover all matters of common interest,
in particular
protection of the environment and technology transfer. With specific reference to Russia, the Green Paper
notes that Russia is prepared to work towards improving the Community(cid:146)s long term security of energy
supply and that, for its part, the Community is prepared to act as a facilitator to mobilise investments in
the energy sector.

New technology and investment will be necessary to increase output and to maintain, improve and extend
pipeline networks for Russian gas, and to reduce energy wastage. New projects or investments relating to
the supply of gas or oil from these areas, as well as decisions on which are the best routes to use, are
a matter for market players, taking into account economic conditions and market needs. These issues are
central to the Community(cid:146)s energy dialogue with Russia instituted at the Paris Union-Russia Summit in
October 2000.

(1) COM(2000) 769 final.