Commission welcomes IEA’s World Energy Outlook as a useful tool for the development of the European Energy Policy

Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, welcomed the 2006 World Energy Outlook, presented yesterday by the International Energy Agency (IEA) as useful report for the preparation of the energy strategy for Europe, to be set out in detail in the Strategic European Energy Review early next year. “According to current trends identified by the IEA, global primary energy demand will increase by 53% between now and 2030. This will accentuate consuming countries' vulnerability to a severe supply disruption and resulting price shock, as well as amplifying the magnitude of global climate change. This is precisely what the new European Energy Policy wants to prevent”, said Commissioner Piebalgs commenting on the report.

The key report emphasises the need for strong policy action in the field of energy on a global scale. It sets out an Alternative Policy Scenario demonstrating that the energy future can be substantially improved if governments around the world implement ambitious measures in energy efficiency and in the promotion of carbon free sources of energy. The application of these could reduce global energy demand by 20% in 2030, while just a dozen specific policies in key countries, including the EU, could account for 40% of the reduction in global CO2 emissions.

The European Commission will present at the beginning of next year the first Strategic EU Energy Review which will be the basis of the new European Energy Policy. This document, announced in the Green Paper for a Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy Policy for Europe, will be the basis for the development of the new European Energy Policy. This first Energy Review will constitute a stocktaking and action plan for the Spring European Council of March. It will be presented in the future to the European Council and the Parliament, on a regular basis.

The Strategic EU Energy Review will propose medium and long term goals for the development of clean and renewable energy sources in the EU. It will be part of the Energy Package which also includes the Renewable Energies Road Map, a Report on the Situation of the Internal Energy Market, the outcome of the Competition Sectoral Enquiry on the Internal Energy Market, a Priority Interconnection Plan, a Communication on Clean Coal and a report on the Economics of Nuclear Energy.