Energy policy for the European Union. White paper

OBJECTIVE: the Commission's White Paper aims to lay down guidelines for a future energy policy which could apply irrespective of the decision by the 1996 IGC on the possible insertion of more specific energy provisions in the Treaty. CONTENT: the Commission considers in its White Paper that the EU's future energy policy will rest on three pillars which are also strategic objectives: generalized competitiveness, security of energy supply and environmental protection. This policy will be implemented mainly by integrating the market, managing the EU's reliance on external sources, promoting sustainable development and assisting research and technology in the energy sector. In part one, the White Paper lays down a general framework for an energy policy based on the strategic objectives towards which Community and national energy policies need to converge. The Commission will use all the provisions of the Treaty and all existing instruments to attain these objectives. In part two, the White Paper sets out the Commission's action programme for the future. This programme, which will be updated every two years, will be implemented using the normal Community decision-making process (proposals and communications) or by adopting new management methods under the current system. As far as immediate action is concerned, the Commission intends, subject to the outcome of the IGC, to take initiatives in 1996 to: - establish a regular energy trend monitoring programme, in cooperation with the Member States, industry and other entities; - create an energy advisory committee under the aegis of the Commission; - organize cooperation between Member States on the agreed energy objectives. The Commission will present proposals on the question of amending the Treaty to the 1996 IGC. This question will be the subject of a Commission report in 1996.�