An overall view of energy policy and actions

In adopting the report by Mr Umberto SCAPAGNINI (UPE, I) on the Commission communication 'an overall view of energy policy and actions' Parliament called for European energy policies to be brought together in a chapter on energy in the EC Treaty and requested that for all Community decisions in this sector Parliament should be involved via the codecision procedure. It called on the Commission in future to indicate clearly in its proposals on energy how the Community will meet its obligations with regard to environmental protection, improvement of the employment level and the quality of life of its citizens. Parliament also considered that the role of the European Energy Observatory should be strengthened as a means of defining guidelines for European energy policy, able to provide a reliable point of reference for operators and the energy market. It called on the Commission to make regular assessments of the energy and environmental policies pursued by the Member States so as to study the degree of compatibility between national energy and environmental objectives and those adopted by the Union. It also drew attention to the importance of renewable energies and the steady growth in the consumption of natural gas in the Community. Deploring the drastic cuts made by the Council in relation to the energy budget, it called on the Commission to ensure the transparency of external action in this sector so that Parliament could properly monitor the cooperation with non-member countries in the framework of Phare, Tacis, Meda or the EDF. It also pointed to the need for indirect Community research and development measures to give proper importance to innovative energy technologies, giving preference to renewable energies and natural gas (liquefaction, transportation and regasification). It also advocated that the substantial investments needed for the application of these substitute energies should not fall on citizens. It considered that the Community institutions should take part in the development of electricity production from the nuclear sector in view of the possibilities offered by this type of energy production for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Lastly Parliament recalled its support for the drawing up of a framework programme for energy policy which would allow the deployment of significant measures in this field. �