Duitse minister van Economische Zaken en Technologie licht Duitse prioriteiten toe aan de Commissie Industrie, onderzoek en energie (en) - Hoofdinhoud
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Chairman, members of parliament:
The motto of the German Presidency is "Europe - succeeding together". I would also like this to serve as the motto for our discussion.
Germany will continue the good and fruitful co-operation between the European Parliament and the Council during its Presidency.
The Industry Committee is of particular importance for us, because it covers several priority issues of our Presidency.
So let us work together constructively and pragmatically in the coming months: for our citizens, and for growth and employment.
I would like to highlight three specific issues of our Presidency:
The first issue, and at present the key focus of our Presidency, is energy policy.
A secure, environmentally compatible, and competitive energy supply is a prerequisite for economic success in Europe.
This was shown once again at the beginning of this year. We have already experienced the first test, the closure of the Druzhba oil pipeline.
The spring summit in March 2007 will engage in an integrated debate on energy policy and climate protection.
The aim is the adoption of an energy action plan, graduated according to priorities.
We believe that the Commission's energy package of 10 January offers a good basis for this.
What do we want to achieve in the German Presidency?
First: Europe needs to speak with one voice in external energy policy if we are to improve relations with the leading producer countries.
Why shouldn't the Energy Commissioner and the Council President form a negotiating team which is given specific mandates to work together to represent our energy interests in the world?
Here, an intensification of co-operation on energy between the EU and Russia is essential for the security of our future energy supply.
So a follow-up agreement to the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement with Russia remains indispensable.
The agenda also includes:
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-expansion of the energy community to include Norway, Turkey, Ukraine and Moldova,
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-and the transfer of the principles of the EU's internal market to other neighbouring countries/regions.
Second, the European markets for electricity and gas need to function better and to grow together to form a European internal market.
Here, the focus is on three aspects:
Firstly, we need investment in new power plants and a strengthening of supplier diversity within all regions of the EU.
The companies should have an incentive to invest in new power stations in other regions and thus to compete with the incumbents.
Secondly, it is important to have effective unbundling of the network operation from the areas exposed to competition.
We wish to engage in an unprejudiced discussion of all options during our Presidency.
To start with, the existing rules must be fully implemented.
It is necessary to examine whether, and if appropriate where, this legal unbundling displays deficiencies.
We shall also discuss whether having independent systems operators, as proposed by the Commission, would bring advantages.
The question of whether full ownership unbundling should be considered, as the last possibility, will also be discussed.
Here, all the pros and cons need to be carefully weighed up.
Finally, we need a simple and integrated network access system for a cross-border exchange of energy, so that the markets, which to a large extent so far have been nationally separated, can grow together.
Third: Europe needs more renewable energy.
It is important that all member states work vigorously on this.
Market-ready renewable energies make important contributions to broadening the energy portfolio.
Their cost-efficient development is a priority goal, also from the perspective of better climate protection.
We shall therefore discuss the overall target proposed by the Commission for the share of primary energy consumption accounted for by renewables in the EU.
In addition to the level of the target, it is also a question of
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-wether this objective should be binding
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-and what the objective specifically means for each individual member state.
This also applies to a binding target for biofuels, which is similarly part of the debate.
Fourth, energy efficiency must be significantly improved in Europe.
We will orient ourselves to the energy savings potential of 20 % up to 2020 as estimated by the Commission.
The Commission's action plan and the conclusions adopted at the Energy Council under the Finnish Presidency offer a good basis for the specific realisation and utilisation of the potential for energy savings.
The elements of an energy efficiency strategy include:
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-effective measures to develop additional potential in the buildings sector;
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-a more rapid adaptation of energy consumption labelling and maximum consumption rules to the economic state of the art;
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-and the reduction of standby losses of appliances.
In addition to these aspects, we will discuss the Commission's idea of an international framework agreement on energy efficiency.
Alongside energy issues, climate protection is dominating the debate.
It is important for Europe to make progress on climate protection and for attention to be paid to both competitiveness and energy security at the same time.
For this reason, other industrial countries and the advanced emerging economies also need to take on reduction commitments.
In our discussion with the member states, we will orient ourselves to the Commission's two-stage approach.
We have a lot of work ahead of us up to the spring summit.
I would now like to turn to a second, very specific theme: the Commission's proposal for an EU Roaming Regulation.
Clearly excessive roaming rates are currently affecting about 147 million EU citizens.
These include not only close to 40 million tourists, but also 110 million business travellers.
The excessive prices are having a negative impact on the competitiveness of the EU and represent a lasting burden on the European consumer.
Small and medium-sized firms particularly suffer from the high costs.
Here, there is a specific need for action for a "Europe of results"!
The proposal is already having an initial impact. Some mobile communications firms are already cutting prices. But this is not enough.
We as the Presidency have set ourselves the ambitious goal of a political agreement on the Roaming Regulation in the Council in June 2007.
Our goals are:
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-to achieve tangible relief for the consumers,
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-to leave the companies sufficient flexibility to set their rates,
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-and to restrict bureaucratic procedures to a minimum.
The discussion in the Council so far shows broad fundamental support. But details remain to be discussed.
We as the Presidency wish to achieve a workable compromise in the coming weeks and months.
We have already presented a compromise text at council working group level on 18 January. It links up different approaches.
Last week's joint hearing of the industry and internal market committees of the European Parliament showed that we are not far apart.
I hope that you will be able to hold the first reading on this basis without delay.
After all, our shared goal should be for the new rules to enter into force this year, so that the EU citizens can soon benefit.
Industrial policy is a third issue at the core of our Presidency.
Industry - both small and large companies - needs a reliable policy framework.
Only then can the companies fully develop their potential for innovation and provide secure jobs.
As Economics Minister, I feel especially committed to this goal.
In October 2005, the Commission produced a programme of work with a whole range of horizontal and sectoral initiatives.
We have various initiatives where results have already been achieved or are expected soon.
These initiatives will be discussed in the Council bodies during the German Presidency.
One priority of the work is the automotive sector (CARS 21).
The Commission would like to adopt a Communication on this tomorrow.
A first exchange of views on this is planned for the first Competitiveness Council on 19 February 2007.
The automotive industry in particular remains a sector with a high capacity for innovation which safeguards lasting jobs.
We will be then considering the individual dossiers in the overall context at the Competitiveness Council on 21-22 May 2007.
On that occasion, progress on the individual initiatives will be assessed and orientation provided for future work.
The intention is that the Council should adopt integrated conclusions on overall industrial policy.
In conclusion: the German Presidency intends to achieve genuine progress in the coming months. Here, we rely on your support.
You, as the elected representatives of the citizens in Europe and as members of the Industry Committee, have not only an important say, but also a share in the decisions on many issues.
As the President of the Council and as Economics Minister, I am looking forward to good and fruitful co-operation. We can utilise the political momentum in this half-year in the policy fields I have mentioned.
A window of opportunity is opening up to us. Let us grasp this chance together.
Thank you!
Date: 31.01.2007