A Situation Report on U.S. Oil and Gas (121426 bytes)
The European Commission has agreed on guidelines that will lead to a unified energy policy for European Union members.
It also has taken another step to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions from autos.
EC adopted a white paper, proposed by Commissioner Christis Papoutsis, that lays down guidelines for future EU energy policy based on competitiveness, security of supply, and environmental protection.
The commission set itself a 5 year deadline for drawing up an energy policy. This will be implemented mainly by integration of Europes energy markets, management of external dependency, promotion of sustainable development, and support of energy research and technology.
A sound and sustainable energy policy is critical for our future economic development, Papoutsis said. This white paper will be our blueprint for action into the 21st century.
The main aim of market integration is liberalizing the EU market for electrical power and natural gas. EC said the additional aim of reduced energy market intervention will require an efficient monitoring tool to make sure structural and technical changes do not conflict with energy policy goals.
EC sees the growing need for energy imports to the EU as a concern, given political risks in some important supplier countries and growing world competition for energy supplies.
EC said, There is scope for strengthening security of supply by effective internal policy corrections to market rules by encouraging fuel diversification, enlarging choices with promotion of energy efficiency and renewables, and putting in place a careful surveillance of the energy situation.
Auto emissions
The commission also adopted a strategy, proposed by Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard, that calls for a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from passenger cars through improved fuel economy. We must move from gas guzzling to gas sipping cars, he said. Making cars more fuel efficient will help us meet our carbon dioxide objectives.
EC said Bjerregaards plan is based on agreement with the auto industry on more fuel efficient vehicles, promotion of fuel efficiency by higher vehicle taxes, better fuel economy labeling on cars, and research and development in pursuit of a car of tomorrow.
EC said cars account for 12% of total CO2 emissions in the EU, and CO2 from cars may increase 20% by 2000 and as much as 33% by 2010 if no preventative action is taken.
Developments during the 1970s and early 1980s for cars to become less fuel consumingand hence less CO2 emittinghave come to a halt in recent years, EC said.
Yet there is considerable technological potential for reducing the fuel consumption of vehicles. To promote and better coordinate vehicle related R&D, the commission established a task force on the Car of Tomorrow. A central focus of this task force is fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions.
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