Energy & transport international relations

Energy and transport are two areas for which relations with third countries are crucial. Transport is of course essential in order to ensure smooth movements of people and economic operators within the EU but also with the outside world. Its importance becomes even more apparent in a period characterised by globalisation. If modes of transport are the arteries of our society, then energy is the blood. The Green Paper on European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy recently issued by the Commission shows that whereas the EU economy is energy-intensive, Community energy resources are limited. Consequently, the EU is dependent on external sources of energy. The EU’s energy external relations strategy is outlined in the following paper.

Commission/Secrétariat General/High Representative Mr Solana's paper on AN EXTERNAL POLICY TO SERVE EUROPE’S ENERGY INTERESTS - Facing external energy risks, European Council , 15-16 June 2006. ( CS, DA, DE, EL, ES, ET, FI, FR, HU, IT, LT, LV, MT, NL, PL, PT, SK, SL, SV)

In May 2003, in the context of the then recently launched European Neighbourhood Policy, the Commission issued a Communication on The Development of Energy Policy for the Enlarged European Union, its Neighbours and Partner Countries. The Council conclusions on this paper were adopted on 15 December 2003.

Commission Communication ( EN, FR, DE)
Council Conclusions ( EN, FR, DE)