Energy: organisation of cooperation around agreed Community objectives

OBJECTIVE: the aim of the proposed decision is to establish an energy cooperation framework conceived as a tool for achieving the agreed objectives and ensuring coherence between the various policies of the Member States and the EC. SUBSTANCE: the Commission proposes the establishment of a framework for energy cooperation between the Community and the Member States around agreed Community energy objectives (set out in the annex), which, while constituting specific measures in support of actions taken in the Member States, will contribute to the achievement of the following objectives: - to achieve a high level of competitiveness in the Community; - to increase security of supply; - to protect the environment; - to promote the rational and efficient use of energy resources and to promote new and renewable energy; - to promote international energy cooperation and liberalization; - to ensure transparency of national and Community energy policy actions; - to develop means of analysing and monitoring the energy market. In order to contribute to the achievement of the common objectives, the Community will use the wide range of instruments in the energy sector that are available to it, notably: RTD and the dissemination of new technologies; harmonization of the fiscal structure; application of the competition rules; standardization; monitoring of the internal market; instruments for cooperation with third countries; development of cost-effective instruments. �