Energy: Europe and Asia cooperation strategy

When it adopted the report by Mr Ulf HOLF (V, S) on Europe-Asia cooperation strategy for energy, the European Parliament criticizes the insufficient analysis of the current energy situation in the countries of Asia and recalls that, by 2005, Asia could be consuming 28% of the world's energy. It therefore welcomes the initiative taken by the Commission to establish a dialogue on energy policy with the countries of Asia but takes the view that that dialogue should cover Europe as a whole (and not simply the Union) with a view to establishing a global strategy to protect mankind and the environment. Parliament takes the view that the Commission must undertake to initiate a separate dialogue with each country and each trading entity in Asia and conclude treaties which will lead to a verifiable strategy to cut CO2 emissions. Calling on the Commission to ensure a better coordination of energy policy internally, it expects proposals as to how energy projects in Asia could be financed and expects the USA, Japan and the OECD Member States to coordinate closely their policies on Asia. For Parliament, participation in Asian energy markets and increased energy supplies must not constitute the focus of cooperation between Europe and Asia. On the contrary, protection of the global environment must be given priority, together with the development of energy services. The Commission must also extend its cooperation to embrace training and research as well as to transport, promoting the export of non-polluting technologies. The Union must above all promote research and the development of renewable energies in Asia (wood, water, waste-matter, solar energy and wind energy) while minimizing the impact on the environment and indigenous communities. Furthermore, efforts must be made to ensure maximum safety in the development of nuclear energy. At the same time, Parliament fears that the economic development of such countries will result in their large-scale production of motor vehicles and refrigerators, etc., which can be particularly damaging to the environment. Everything must therefore be done to produce goods which are greener and less harmful to the environment. As regards the diversification of energy sources, Parliament would prefer electrification (especially in rural and urban peripheral areas). Finally, Parliament calls on the Commission to draw up a Green Paper on energy cooperation in Asia in order to initiate a debate on this subject (in particular with the countries of Central Asia) and hopes that, for the attainment of these various objectives, additional funding will be provided. �