2004/20/EC: Commission Decision of 23 December 2003 setting up an executive agency, the "Intelligent Energy Executive Agency", to manage Community action in the field of energy in application of Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003

Commission Decision
of 23 December 2003
setting up an executive agency, the "Intelligent Energy Executive Agency", to manage Community action in the field of energy in application of Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003
(2004/20/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 of 19 December 2002 laying down the statute for executive agencies to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes(1), and in particular Article 3(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) In the framework of the sustainable development strategy, the European Union has taken measures aimed at promoting and developing renewable energy and energy efficiency in order to contribute in a balanced way to achieving the following general objectives: security of energy supply, competitiveness and environmental protection.
(2) These measures include Decision No 1230/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2003 adopting a multiannual programme for action in the field of energy: "Intelligent Energy - Europe" (2003-2006)(2), the areas of action of which are the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency, including in the transport sector, and their promotion in developing countries.
(3) Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 empowers the Commission to set up executive agencies in accordance with the general statute laid down by that Regulation and to entrust them with certain management tasks relating to one or more Community programmes.
(4) The purpose of empowering the Commission to set up executive agencies is to allow it to focus on core activities and functions which cannot be outsourced, without relinquishing control over, or ultimate responsibility for, activities managed by those executive agencies.
(5) Management of the Intelligent Energy - Europe programme involves implementation of technical projects which do not entail political decision-making and requires a high level of technical and financial expertise throughout the project cycle.
(6) The delegation to an executive agency of tasks related to programme implementation is possible with a clear separation between programming, establishing priorities and evaluating the programme, which would be carried out by the Commission, and project implementation, which would be entrusted to the executive agency.
(7) A cost-benefit analysis carried out for that purpose has showed that certain management tasks, such as budget implementation, technical and financial monitoring of projects and the dissemination and use of results could be carried out by an executive agency more efficiently whilst ensuring the implementation by the Commission of the Intelligent Energy - Europe programme in accordance with the Decision adopting the programme, as well as the programme's work programme and the guidelines adopted by the Commission with the assistance of the Management Committee provided for in Article 8 of the Decision.
(8) The use of an executive agency would mean that the new programme, which is significantly larger than its predecessor, could be managed more efficiently.
(9) The performance of the identified tasks by an executive agency would allow the Commission to focus on strategic and regulatory questions, whilst increasing Community aid to multinational actions in the Member States. This is the best way to achieve the energy objectives set in the various legislative texts and other measures in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency, including in the transport sector.
(10) The implementation of the Commission's priorities and, in particular, the sustainable development strategy may result in measures being adopted as part of the Community policy in the areas cited entailing Commission action which could be implemented by the agency. Provision should be made for the possibility of assigning additional management and implementation tasks to the agency.
(11) The measures provided for by this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee of the Executive Agencies,