Energy Forum

Sami Andoura has been part of the task force established by the think tank of Notre Europe to study the feasibility of a European Energy Community. The study focuses on several aspects of Europe’s energy policy including aspects of competitiveness, sustainability and issues of security of supply. Part I of the report conclude the analysis of Europe’s present energy policy with three major findings, which were presented during the policy forum: First, Europe’s current energy policy is not consistent. Second, Europe and its institutions lack the capability to develop a real energy policy and third, Europe’s current energy policy lacks credibility and legitimacy. To tackle these issues a number of legal and institutional options were presented. Option 1 refereed to the possibilities and the potential of the new energy title in the Lisbon treaty. Option 2 proposed a differentiated integration within the union structures within the framework of enhanced cooperation. Option 3 establishes the possibility of introducing a European energy treaty, which would accommodate all elements in one single legal instrument. Finally option 4 discusses solutions within the context of functional/regional arrangements (e.g. Schengen).

Kilian Gross referred to his own experience in the field of energy policy. As a legal expert working for DG Energy he raised several issues and provided a number of valuable insights on the actual working procedures of the Commission with regard to energy policy. He stressed the importance of communication as an essential factor to advance the Commission’s competences with regard to the establishment of a common energy policy; communication was seen as a precondition for institutional change. With regard to the four options presented by the report “ Towards a European energy Community: A policy proposal” he agreed on the overall approach raised though important questions on the feasibility of these options. He raised the risk of an emerging parallel institutionalism which could lead to further fragmentation if some EU member states would decide to use either enhanced cooperation (option 2) or Schengen-like agreements (option 4). In addition a number of practical question from the audience were answered such as the role of the High Representative with regard to the external dimension of Energy namely security of supply, the implications of the Lisbon Treaty for the further development of a Common European energy policy and questions related to the price stabilization mechanism and crisis management/strategic reserves as has been introduced by the third energy package.

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