Energy & transport international relations

The European Commission and the International Energy Agency (IEA) are developing a fruitful cooperation. The EC participates in the IEA governing board meetings and in its different committees: on long term cooperation, on oil markets and emergency preparedness, on R&D and on relations with non member countries. Among the IEA’s 26 member countries, 17 are EU Member States (EU15, Hungary and Czech Republic). Poland and Slovakia are candidate countries for IEA accession.

The IEA, based in Paris, is the world’s most important intergovernmental body dealing with energy. Created in 1974 after the oil crisis, the IEA’s major role is the security of oil supply through oil stockholding and emergency measures in case of supply disruptions. Each member country has to hold oil stocks of at least 90 days of net imports - versus the 90 days of consumption under the EU directives.

The close cooperation and coordination between the IEA and the EC enabled a quick response to the supply disruption occurred in the Gulf of Mexico caused by Hurricane Katrina in the US in 2005.

The IEA is mainly a consultative body. Its activities include the exchange of information on energy policies including the rational use of energy, the environment, energy technologies and advice to non member countries. The IEA flagship publications are the “World Energy Outlook” – energy forecasts up to 2030 and the monthly Oil Market Report - energy statistics and energy country reviews.

The Commission (via Eurostat) is cooperating in the Joint Oil Data Initiative together with the IEA and other international organisations. JODI is now hosted by the International Energy Forum Secretariat based in Riyadh. The Commission also participates in a number of “Implementing Agreements” in energy technologies developed under the aegis of the IEA.

Commissioner Piebalgs addressed the Governing Board on 13 June 2006 and gave an overview of the recent EU developments on energy policy.

At the Ministerial Meeting in May 2005, Commissioner Piebalgs called for strengthening energy efficiency efforts and intensified energy relations with major producers and consumers countries. The IEA Ministerial Communiqué was adopted on 3 May 2005.