Tomorrow, Wednesday, 5 May, the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek and former President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors will participate in the European Parliament in an event,'Towards a European Energy Community'.

During the event they will adopt:
'A political declaration on the creation of a European Energy Community.'

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said:
"We jointly urge the creation of a European Energy Community.  In this sense we propose to go back to the roots of the European project.  We need a stronger and deeper common energy policy for Europe.  60 years ago, coal and steel were of tremendous strategic importance for Europe as was emphasised by Robert Schuman in his declaration.  Today, the supply of reliable, affordable and sustainable energy has a similar strategic meaning."

"Climate protection and the rising costs for exploiting fossil energy resources urge us to invest much more in research and development of new green technologies", says Jerzy Buzek. These great investments only can be secured by the European Community and is the key to the new industrial revolution that will contribute to Europe's emergence from the economic crisis" - the President added.

"Such a Community should also be based upon the value of solidarity as was the case 60 years ago.  We should be able to enhance research on new sources of energy, pool and administer our energy supply capacities jointly and act as a purchasing community on the global energy markets.  Achieving this will guarantee the security of energy supply to the European Union.  If faced by a major energy crisis, a common strategic energy reserve should be available and managed throughout the continent in a spirit of solidarity.

If not all Member States are ready to join the new Community from the outset, we need to begin to create it nevertheless. So that in the future others would join. All of them", President Buzek added.

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Background info:
The event 'Towards a European Energy Community' will take place on Wednesday 5 May at 12.30 in the room PHS 1 A 002. The event will be followed by a press point outside of the meeting room (at approximately 13:15 pm).

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Notes for Editors:
Audiovisual material will also be available on Europe by Satellite (EbS):
http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs/schedule.cfm?page=1&date=05/05/2010&institution=0#87254

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For further information:

Inga Rosinska
Spokeswoman
Mobile: +32 (0)498 981 354