11/10/2010EU says GCC countries to play important role in Europe's new energy strategy
BRUSSELS, - The European Union presented here today its new strategy for a competitive, sustainable and secure energy for the next ten years, 2010-2020.
Unveiling Europe's "Energy 2020" at a press conference, EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said the strategy defines the energy priorities and sets the actions to be taken in order to tackle the challenges of saving energy, secure supplies, and effectively negotiate with international energy partners and suppliers.
Replying to a question by the Kuwait News Agency, KUNA, on the role that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries could play in the EU's new energy strategy, Oettinger replied that "the Gulf states and the Middle East are extremely important energy partners for a number of reasons." " First of all for traditional reasons like supply of oil and more recently LNG and supply of gas. There Qatar plays a key role. The same applies to other countries in the region," he said.
"But I also see the opportunities there for renewable energy sources, for if something is right for Morocco and Tunisia like solar and wind energy I think that cannot be wrong for other countries in the region," noted the EU Commissioner.
"If we look at electricity networks, transport of energy from the Gulf states towards Greece and to the rest of Europe that is something we have to examine just as we have done with Morocco, Tunisia, Spain and Italy," he added.
The EU's top energy official stressed that the EU is the biggest energy market in the world and noted that the global consumption of oil will increase. "Oil is going to be needed for many, many years to come," he said.
Responding to a question on reports that oil price could reach USD 200, he explained that if oil prices go up, this is related to market forces. "There is economic growth in several countries of the world and this will have impact on the oil prices," he said.
In the strategy adopted today, the EU identifies five top priorities which are : energy saving, completing the Pan-European integrated energy market by 2015, speak with one voice on energy in the world, boost Europe's leadership in energy technology and innovation, and safe, secure and affordable energy. Oettinger also announced that the very first EU Summit on Energy will be held on 4 February 2011.
He added that the EU aims at achieving ambitious energy and climate-change objectives for 2020: reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by 20 %, increase the share of renewable energy to 20 % and make a 20 % improvement in energy efficiency.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2124266&Language=en
