WRITTEN QUESTION E-0783/02 by Brice Hortefeux (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Energy supplies.
Date: 2002-03-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: energy diversification, energy policy, energy supply, security of supply, self-sufficiency in energy

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/215

(2002/C 205 E/235)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0783/02

by Brice Hortefeux (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 March 2002)

Subject: Energy supplies

In the 1970s the Community suffered from energy price increases,
the Middle-East conflicts and
inflationary trends stoked by the petrodollar. This type of situation could reappear and might well be
worsened by developments in neighbouring geographical areas.

The Commission estimates that, within twenty or thirty years, the EU will be 90 % dependent on imports
to cover its oil needs. The figure for gas is estimated at 70 %; and for coal, close on 100 %. Most of our
energy imports come from politically unstable regions. Western Europe, which is now one of the world’s
most stable and peaceful regions, may be affected by the consequences of this external instability.

The Commission’s Green Paper ‘Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply’ provides an
overview of the factors which affect security of supply in economies which are becoming increasingly
interdependent and will continue to do so in the future, even though the period considered (up until 2030)
is not sufficiently long since it would have been preferable to envisage scenarios from now until 2050. In
this context, and bearing in mind the 11 September events, what action does the Commission intend to
take in this field, i.e. by what means, at what rate and at what cost can we diversify our supply sources and
promote new sources of energy?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 2002)

The Commission’s Green Paper on the security of energy supply (1) stimulated an unprecedented fifteen
month debate across Europe and wider afield on energy supply prospects and policies. The risks created by
the Union’s needs for imported energy supplies has been one of the focal points of the debate.

The Commission is in the process of developing some of the instruments which will serve to help the
Union face the challenges to its energy supply in the future: for example, the proposed revisions to the
Internal market directives (2), the Renewables Directive 2001/77/EC of the Parliament and the Council of
27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the
internal electricity market (3), the proposed package to promote alternative fuels in transport (4), the
proposed directive on energy efficiency in buildings (5), the proposed regulation on state aids to the coal
industry (6), the strategic partnership with Russia, the Sixth Research and Technological Development
Framework Programmes and the Communication on energy infrastructure (7). New proposals are being
prepared to improve energy efficiency, enhance our security stocks system and examine the future role of
nuclear generation.

The Commission proposes to present a synthesis report to the European Council at their Seville meeting
(21 and 22 June 2002) on the results of the Green Paper debate and future actions.

(1) COM(2000) 769 final.
(2) COM(2001) 125 final.
(3) OJ L 283, 27.10.2001.
(4) COM(2001) 547 final.
(5) COM(2001) 226 final.
(6) COM(2001) 423 final.
(7) COM(2001) 775 final.