MEPs and MPs form EU Member States have concluded in Brussels that the EU should accelerate the application of common energy policy rules, and the policy itself must aim to improve competitiveness and security of supply and sustainability.

MEPs and national deputies from the 27 Member States participated in n the meeting "Towards a European Energy Community: A Policy Proposal". The parlamentarians diivided into three working groups to assess the EU Energy Community:

•     Energy security
•     Single energy market
•     New and renewable energy.

The three committees have submitted their reports with the conclusions reached at this meeting.

The firts conclusion about the energy segurity is the need of accelerating the implementation of joint energy policy. On the other hand, the participants see necesary the presence of a fundamental compensation mechanism in the EU to facilitate energy infrastructure investment.  On this issue, MEPs recently told the EC in a resolution that more needs to be done to prevent future disruption and early-warning mechanisms need to be reviewed.

The report about the single energy market appels for interconnection of energy networks to create the single market and enable lower prices that benefit consumers. Also, improved energy efficiency would improve the sector's competitiveness, allowing energy suppliers to redirect investing into cleaner and alternative sources. In this regard, the report calls for a greater energy efficiency and more cooperation between Member States to develop cleaner technologies. This would be done with tax and financial aid to boost production, according to MPs.

In the context of renewable sources, the attendees estimated that this type of energy should be top priority in the EU energy policy to ensure the maintenance and competitiveness of European energy companies. The report shows that cooperation between Member States could be the best legal basis for the future. On this subject, the Directorate General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission published a tender to analize the financing of renewable energy in the market ahead of the objectives of the Strategy 2020.

The Vice-Chairman of the Committee, Joaquín Almunia, who also attended this interparliamentary meeting, said the single energy market can not be built from one day to another, the focus should be on regional cooperation and specific areas within the Union.