No 155 - Weekly - 07 October 2005

[ Transport ]

• European Union signs aviation agreement with Chile

• The parliament gives its support to Ari Vatanen's report on Road Safety

• Parilament gives green light to 3rd Railway Package with amendments

[ Energy ]

• Time for action on energy efficiency and supply diversity, says the European Parliament

• MEPs ask for mandatory EU target for renewable energies

• Joint EU Presidency and European Commission Press release on the EU - Russia Permanent Partnership Council on Energy

• Commissioner Piebalgs presents the action by the European Commission to face high and volatile oil prices

• Watch life the EIE Programme Information Day will take place, today, on 7 October 2005 10.30-13.00

[ Practical Information ]

• New CALLS FOR TENDER  in the field of energy and transport. New web page.

• PUBLICATIONS : new releases: Flying safely in Europe - Nuclear Energy in Europe

The EU and Chile signed on 6 October an aviation agreement. The agreement is the first of its kind and allows all European airlines to fly between Chile and any EU Member State. The agreement signed today is an important step in the broader aviation relations between the EU and Chile. The Commission wants to negotiate a broader agreement with Chile to open up the respective aviation markets and ensure regulatory convergence. Vice-President Jacques Barrot in charge of Transport policy said: “The agreement recognises that airlines in the EU are no longer national airlines but European airlines. This is an important step in our external aviation policy”.

Related topics from previous issues :

• (23/12/2004) European Commission proposes aviation agreement with Chile

• (14/12/2004) The Commission defends the “Open Skies” rulings

Parliament expressed its deep concern on the low levels of road safety in some Member States, especially in many of the ten new Member States. In adopting the report by Ari VATANEN (EPP-ED, FR) with 453 votes in favour, 69 against with 14 abstentions, on 3rd October  MEPs set out many recommendations aiming at one crucial target: halving the number of road accidents in the EU by 2010.

Related topics from previous issues :

• (25/11/2004) Vice-President Barrot presents his priorities on road safety in his first public event (FR)

• (04/06/2003) Road safety: The Commission wants to save 20 000 lives a year on European roads

Parliament gave on 3rd October its green light to more competition on international and national railway networks. However, MEPs are pushing for compensation for train travellers, but gave a thumbs down to fines for delayed goods deliveries. They want cash refunds for delayed national and international passengers, but feel fines for the freight sector would increase costs and distort competition. Instead, easier access for new companies would provide a boost, they said. To facilitate mobility in the sector, they also want a European licence for train drivers.

Related topics from previous issues :

• (16/01/2005) Vice-President Barrot presents the great lines of his rail policy (FR)

• (03/04/2004) With a quality European railway system the aim, the Commission is proposing the opening up of the market for international passenger services in 2010

MEPs are calling for Europe to diversify its energy sources and to promote energy conservation and renewable energy, given the continuous increase in the price of oil and its effects on both businesses and the public. They want the EU to be the least fossil-fuel dependent and most energy-efficient economy in the world by 2020. This call comes in a resolution adopted on 4th October which also says energy saving and efficiency and the use of alternative energy sources needs to be tackled on global basis, both with high energy consumers like the USA and China and with developing countries, by integrating sustainable energy provision into the EU's development cooperation policy.

Related topics from previous issues :

• (08/09/2005) Oil crisis: The European Commission calls on the Member States to pull together

• (06/09/2005) Commission discusses five-point plan to react to the surge in oil prices

The European Parliament adopted on 3rd October a report by Claude TURMES (Greens/EFA, LU) which outlines a strategic overview on where renewable policies stand in Europe and proposes concrete actions to increase the share of renewable energy in the EU. MEPs recognise the potential of a wide diversity of 21 different renewable energy technologies and point out that the EU is a world leader in most renewable energy technologies. Nevertheless, new EU-wide initiatives and directives are necessary, according to the MEPs.

Related topics from previous issues :

• (28/05/2004) Renewable energy: Commission calls for a stronger commitment of Member States to achieve the 2010 targets

• (09/03/2005) Commissioner Piebalgs advocates for ambitious goals in renewable energies

The Permanent Partnership Council (PPC) on Energy held its first ever meeting in London on 3 October. Its key objective was to give additional political impetus to EU - Russia energy cooperation. The PPC described energy as a crucial part of the relationship between Russia and the EU, and discussed ways of deepening their engagement. The PPC agreed that energy was rising up agendas around the world at the moment. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita showed the importance of secure and diverse energy supplies. The PPC also recognised the impact on energy security of an increasing demand for energy and the need to increase energy efficiency in order to tackle climate change. Reliable energy supply and demand was vital for the economic development of Russia and the EU and increased the chances of peace and prosperity in this century.

Related topics from previous issues :

• (13/12/2004) Four years of energy dialogue with Russia have yielded positive results

• (16/10/2003) EU-Russia Energy Dialogue: two Round Tables enhance mutual understanding of energy strategies and the challenges of electricity interconnection

"The European Commission is highly concerned about the current situation in the oil market, characterised by an unprecedented rise in prices. The underlying cause for these high prices is the increasingly tight balance between supply and demand, mainly due to a strong growth in the demand for oil over the last years, particularly in the US and China, and, as a result, the current significant lack of spare crude production and refining capacities. In fact, in 2004, there was the largest worldwide increase in oil demand ever. In such circumstances – where there is limited spare capacity – specific events, such as the war in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina, fuel speculation, pushing prices ever higher", those were the opening words of the speech that Commissioner Piebalgs delivered in the European Parliament  on 28 September to present the action led by the European Commission to face the high and volatile oil prices.

Related topics from previous issues :

• (08/09/2005) Oil crisis: The European Commission calls on the Member States to pull together

• (06/09/2005) Commission discusses five-point plan to react to the surge in oil prices

EIE (Inteligent Energy - Europe) Programme Information Day will take place on 7 October 2005 in Brussels, Belgium at 10.30-13.00. It will provide all necessary information and advice to apply for IEE co-funding and to increase the chances of success. The event will be webstreamed live on www.managenergy.tv. Further information can be found on http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/events/infodays_en.htm As an appetiser, see an interview on the EIE Agency by Patrick Lambert, Director, Intelligent Energy Executive Agency, European Commission, click here View Interview (13 min). Other video recordings recently posted in www.managenery.tv are:  the 6th Framework Programme Information Day on the Fourth Call for Proposals in the areas of Aeronautics and Space, Sustainable Energy Systems and Sustainable Surface Transport. Click here for full video recordings ir the Commission introduction directly on View Interview (18 min) by Mr Fotis Karamitsos, Director, DG Energy and Transport, European Commission; ManagEnergy workshop video recordings: CPMR Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions Energy Working Group. The workshop concentrated on the crucial issue of how energy programmes can cohesively deal with issues under the headings of the three main strands of Sustainable Development: Social, Economic and Environmental. It will gather information from each participant region and come to a decision on how to progress the issues over the next 12 months in preparation for the CPMR Conference in Navarra. The event took place in Cornwall, UK on 20 September 2005.

Related topics from previous issues :

• (06/04/2005) The Commission proposes the continuation of the Intelligent Energy - Europe programme in 2007- 2013

• (09/04/2002) "Intelligent Energy for Europe": the Commission proposes a new energy action programme

New Calls for Tender

The internet service of DG TREN has developed a new web page announcing the Call for tenders & Call for expression of interest concerning the Directorate General for Transport and Energy. In this new section you will find not only contract notices published in the Official Journal but also, prior information notices, calls for expressions of interest, and the list of contracting parties.

Creation of the European Radiation Protection Training and Education Platform	OJ S 186-183023	25/10/2005
European non-destructive testing ALARA network	OJ S 186-183024	25/10/2005
European ALARA Network for Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material-NORM	OJ S 186-183025	25/10/2005
Repair and maintenance services of measuring apparatus	OJ S 182-179458	17/10/2005
Study to prepare a revision of Directive 92/42/EEC on efficiency requirements and energy performance labels for new hot water boilers	OJ S 153-152322	05/10/2005

Publications : Just Released !

A selection of our latest publications:

	Energy use in buildings: Use it better, use it less Length: 14’37” Now in CD ROM		Nuclear energy in Europe: How the Euratom Treaty protects Europe’s citizens 16 pages. Language(s) : DE - EN – FR Price: gratis

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