European Union News - Energy

The 9th Energy Globe Awards for local environmental projects were presented by the Parliament, Commission and Council presidents Hans-Gert Pöttering, José Manuel Barroso and Janez Janša. Projects from around the world promoting the use of clean and renewable energies competed in five different categories: Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Youth.

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn told MEPs on Thursday that while the worst of the financial market crisis itself was probably over, the impact on the real economy would continue at least for the rest of the year. He also spoke about the food price crisis and reform of financial market supervision.

Leading stakeholders from across the EU met, on the 6th May 2008, with Consumer Commissioner, Meglena Kuneva, and Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, to reinforce and promote the rights of EU energy consumers. Stakeholders gave their support to the process launched by the Commission to better implement these rights and better inform consumers. The basis for this process will be the Citizens' Energy Forum, building on the measures proposed in the "Third Energy Package".

The European Commission Directorate general for energy and transport has released Call for proposals under the multi-annual programme 2007-2013 for the year 2008. The the trans-European transport network itself shall be 45 million euros of which 20 million euros shall be devoted to the motorways of the Sea priority project.

To mark the launch of a new calls for proposalr under the annual work programme in the field of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) for 2008 and multi-annual work programme for grants in the field of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) for the period 2007-2013, the EC has set up a series of meetings on the 16th of May 2008 titled "Information Day". The meetings will be broadcasted live over the Internet.

The European Commission has launched a consultation to prepare an EU Offshore Wind Energy Action Plan by inviting investors, project developers, wind turbine manufacturers, energy companies, government services, environmental NGOs and all other interested stakeholders, including the general public, to help identify the key barriers for the further development of offshore wind energy in Europe and what might be done to overcome them.

On the 17th April 2008 the European Commission published in the OJ (Official Journal of the European Union) Invitation to submit comments pursuant to Article 1(2) in Part I of Protocol 3 to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice on State aid with regard to the Norwegian support scheme for alternative, renewable heating and electricity saving measures in private households (2008/C 96/04).

The European Commission (EC) have published a report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliment concering Progress in creating the internal gas and electricity market [SEC(2008) 460]. The report  which was approved on the 15th April 2008 was published on the 17th April 2008 in the OJ (Official Journal of the European Union).

Commissioner Piebalgs underlines the role of nuclear energy in the transition towards a low carbon economy Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs reiterated today the importance of nuclear energy for the reduction of CO2 emissions in a speech at a European Nuclear Assembly conference in Brussels. The conference was dedicated to the development of Europe's low carbon economy and organised by Foratom.

The European Commision has launched a public consultation related to Marco Polo Programme in order to improve certain aspects to make the programme more attractive for participants, leading to more and better projects for more sustainable freight transport in Europe. Feedback must be sent by 30 May at the latest so the EC services will be able to take it into account.

Next Marco Polo Conference will take place in Venice on 10/11 June 2008. The conference will give the latest information aobut the freight transport in Europe, present ongoing Marco Polo projects and the ingredients of their success and tell you how to apply for Marco Polo funding under future calls for project proposals.

The Commission has recognised in a Communication dated on 1st april 2008 the need to reduce the emissions of harmful air pollutants if significant progress is to be delivered towards the objectives established in the 6th Environmental Action Programme. The Commission's communication on a Thematic Strategy on air pollution sets out a significant number of possible Community measures.