MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on external aspects of energy security
14.9.2009
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Rebecca Harms, Claude Turmes, Reinhard Buetikofer, Werner Schulz, Franziska Katharina Brantner on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0040/2009
B7‑0045/2009
European Parliament resolution on external aspects of energy security
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled ‘Second Strategic Energy Review: An EU Security and Solidarity Action Plan’ (SEC(2008)2870) (SEC(2008)2871) (SEC(2008)2872), along with accompanying documents: Europe's current and future energy position: Demand-resources-investments; The Market for Solid Fuels in the EU in 2004-2006 and Trends in 2007 (COM(2008)744),
- having regard to the Green Paper on Towards a Secure, Sustainable and Competitive European Energy Network, along with an accompanying document: Oil Infrastructures: An assessment of the existing and planed oil infrastructures within and towards the EU (COM(2008)737),
- having regard to its resolution of 26 September 2007, 'Towards a common European foreign policy on energy'[1],
- having regard to the Commission Green Paper entitled ‘A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy’ (COM(2006)0105),
- having regard to the joint paper by the Commission and the Council's Secretary-General/High Representative (SG/HR) entitled ‘An external policy to serve Europe's energy interests’, submitted to the European Council of 15-16 June 2006,
- having regard to its position of 18 May 2006 on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion by the European Community of the Energy Community Treaty[2],
- having regard to its resolution of 23 March 2006 on security of energy supply in the European Union[3],
- having regard to the Commission Communication to the European Council of 12 October 2006 entitled ‘External energy relations – from principles to action’ (COM(2006)0590),
- having regard to the Presidency Conclusions of the European Council of 23-24 March 2006 concerning the European Council's endorsement of the Green Paper on an Energy Policy for Europe, and of the European Council of 15-16 June 2006 concerning the joint paper by the Commission and the SG/HR on the external aspects of energy security,
- having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Council and the European Parliament entitled ‘An Energy Policy for Europe’ (COM(2007)0001),
- having regard to the Presidency Conclusions of the European Council of 8-9 March 2007 and the European Council's Action Plan (2007-2009) for an Energy Policy for Europe (EPE),
- having regard the agreement signed between the EU and Turkey on 13 July 2009 on the legal framework for the Nabucco gas pipeline,
- having regard to the Presidency Conclusions of the European Council of 19-20 March 2009,
- having regard to the Commission proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning measures to safeguard security of gas supply and repealing Directive 2004/67/EC (COM(2009)363 final),
- having regard to the Commission proposal for a Council Regulation concerning the notification to the Commission of investment projects in energy infrastructure within the European Community and repealing Regulation (EC) No 736/96 (COM(2009)361 final),
- having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas energy security constitutes an essential component of the overall security, stability and prosperity of the European Union, for which, however, there is still no basis under the Treaties,
B. whereas the lack of a genuine and effective common European energy security policy deeply undermines the coherence and credibility of the EU’s external action, with regard, in particular, to the promotion of the values on which the EU is founded,
C. whereas the EU's dependence on energy imports is significant at present and, as things stand, is projected to increase,
D. whereas a large share of the EU’s gas supplies is consumed in buildings; whereas investments in no-energy and very low-energy buildings will produce more results in terms of gas independence than the North Stream, South Stream and Nabucco pipeline projects together,
E. whereas the most cost-effective solution for reducing EU energy dependence is to encourage energy savings, renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, which also contribute to job creation, combating climate change and progress towards a resource-efficient economy,
F. whereas, despite the drop in oil and gas prices as a result of the global financial crisis, the slow progress in switching to an energy-efficient and fully renewables-based economy, declining output from the world's oil and gas fields and the continuing growth in demand inevitably mean a return to tighter fossil fuel markets and increasing import dependence for consuming countries, once the crisis is over,
G. whereas several Member States are highly dependent on a single supplier of natural gas and unwarranted disruption to supplies can cause severe problems, as demonstrated during the Russia-Ukraine gas crisis at the beginning of 2009,
H. whereas the existing early-warning instruments proved insufficient to predict the gas crisis of January 2009,
I. whereas predictable threats to security of energy supplies will continue to exist as long as the energy-producing and transit countries do not abide by common and transparent rules, as defined by the Energy Charter Treaty and the Transit Protocol,
J. whereas a common external energy policy, based on solidarity, diversification, unity in defending common interests, strengthened cooperation with the major energy-producing, transit and consumer countries and the promotion of indigenous renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, would create synergies which would help to ensure security of supply for the European Union and would enhance the EU's strength, capacity for action in foreign policy matters and credibility as a global actor, including in the field of climate change,
K. whereas our dependence on diesel imports is increasing as a result of an over-stretched pro-diesel policy in the transport sector,
L. whereas on 13 July 2009 four Member States and Turkey signed an agreement in Ankara paving the way for the construction of the Nabucco pipeline as a means of reducing the EU's dependence on Russian gas,
M. whereas on 6 August 2009 Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan signed a protocol with Russian Prime Minister Putin to start exploration work on the South Stream pipeline, which is a potentially competing infrastructure in the Southern Corridor and, unlike the Nabucco project, increases the EU's dependence on Russia; whereas some Member States are also involved in the South Stream project,
N. whereas according to statements by Paolo Scaroni, the CEO of ENI, the Italian public company leading the South Stream project with Gazprom, Nabucco will never be completed,
1. Looks to the Commission and the Member States to display strategic leadership in establishing a common European foreign policy on energy, as called for in its resolution of 26 September 2007;
2. Welcomes measures to reduce energy consumption in the EU as the cheapest and fastest way of improving the EU's energy security; considers, however, that clearly defined policies and measures and speedy implementation thereof are needed, in particular in the buildings and transport sectors;
3. Regards the improvement of interconnections within Europe as essential, since the filling of existing gaps is vital to the efficient functioning of the internal market and energy solidarity;
4. Stresses that energy dialogues should in no way take place at the expense of frank and results-oriented dialogues on human rights;
5. Underlines the strategic importance of the diversification of gas supplies, with particular regard to the Southern Corridor;
6. Points out, in this regard, that Nabucco and South Stream are both chiefly aimed at linking the EU to new sources of gas, notably in the Caspian region and the Middle East; deplores, in this respect, the potential competition between the two pipelines and the resulting unsustainable situation in the Southern Corridor;
7. Points out that Nabucco is an EU priority project for the development of which EUR 250 million has been allocated by the Commission; deplores, in this regard, the role played by some of the Member States involved in the South Stream project, who, by signing bilateral agreements with the Russian Federation, are undermining both the Nabucco project and EU energy diversification guidelines and targets;
8. Deplores the Commission's failure to react and inability to develop effective coordination between Member States on such a sensitive issue;
9. Urges the Council to start an open and transparent discussion with a view to developing and implementing a genuine common European energy security policy which is aimed also at obviating the need for bilateral agreements which could undermine the Union's security or have a negative impact on other Member States;
10. Welcomes the idea of the DESERTEC project, which adds to the credibility of the long-term target of a 100% global renewables-based economy and offers a real sustainable energy and economic development perspective for the non-EU Mediterranean countries, subject to the proviso that the project should primarily serve to meet local demand for sustainable energy and job creation in the countries concerned, whilst any remaining electricity might eventually be exported to the EU; points out, in this regard, that DESERTEC should not undermine EU efforts to promote renewables at domestic level, in order to reach its ultimate goal of becoming a 100% energy-efficient, renewables-based economy;
11. Urges the Commission to incorporate measures on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources into the European Neighbourhood Policy;
12. Asks the Commission to come forward with concrete proposals to reduce diesel use in the EU;
13. Regards the number of the Commission staff working on the external dimension of energy security, including diversification projects, as insufficient; considers that if the ambitious declared objectives of the Energy Policy for Europe are to be achieved and monitoring and analytical capabilities improved, this should also be reflected in the volume of internal resources allocated;
14. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop an appropriate ‘solidarity clause’, including conditions and procedures for intervention in emergencies caused by the disruption of energy supplies in other Member States, in accordance with the Lisbon Treaty;
15. Calls on the Commission to draw up a comprehensive assessment of the EU's existing and planned gas infrastructure and electricity grid, specifying the works schedule and the costs;
16. Strongly supports the view that the EU should engage in close dialogue with key energy suppliers, with a view to strengthening energy interdependence and improving energy security for the EU as a whole, with a particular focus on greater efficiency, equal market access, non-discrimination and transparency;
17. Stresses that the EU needs to maintain a coherent position towards supplier and transit countries and to put pressure on them to meet their commitments and obligations;
18. Calls for more efforts to anticipate potential energy supply problems in order to avoid future disruption by developing, inter alia, the effectiveness of the NESCO (Network of Energy Security Correspondents);
19. Looks forward to considering the recent Commission proposal on reviewing existing early-warning mechanisms, the NESCO and other instruments that proved ineffective in the face of the 2009 Russia-Ukraine energy crisis;
20. Suggests the development of a common EU approach to negotiations on transit rules and fees with external partners;
21. Calls on the Commission to take immediate action against hostile takeover moves by non-transparent foreign entities in the EU’s energy market; is alarmed by Surgutneftegaz's recent acquisition of a stake in the Hungarian energy company MOL and its inability to disclose its ownership structure and the identity of its ultimate beneficiary owners, as legitimately requested by the Hungarian energy market regulator;
22. Emphasises that progress in developing a common European energy policy depends to a large extent on the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty; urges the EU and the Member States to take steps to secure a binding, progressive and all-encompassing Treaty basis for a common European energy supply and security policy; endorses the Lisbon Treaty, which contains an energy solidarity clause and makes energy policy a shared responsibility between the EU and the Member States, as a step in the right direction;
23. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.