SYNERGY
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Introduction
SYNERGY
is a co-operation programme managed by the Directorate General for
Energy and Transport (DG TREN) of the European Commission. It
finances co-operation activities with non EU countries in the field
of the formulation and implementation of energy policy to the mutual
benefit of all parties concerned. The European Union (EU) became
involved in energy related co-operation projects following the oil
crises in the 1980s, with the "EC International Energy
Co-operation Programme", which has evolved into today's
"SYNERGY" programme.
Synergy
is the international co-operation component of the "Energy
Framework Programme" which runs from 1998 to 2002
The
objectives of the SYNERGY programme are in line with those set out
in the White Paper "An energy policy for the European
Union". SYNERGY should therefore improve the competitiveness of
Community industries, enhance the security of supply, promote
sustainable development and improve energy efficiency. According to
the new Guidelines for the Synergy programme, which have been
published in the Official Journal of 5.5.01 (L125/24), the
implemetation of the programme will refocus on activities related to
security of supply and implementation of the Kyoto protocol.
Unlike
other EU programmes that are of a more general nature and include
energy as one of several aims, SYNERGY is a specific energy policy
programme covering the external dimension of EU actions in the
energy policy sector. As it is not an assistance but a cooperation
programme, SYNERGY's projects are carried out following action taken
by European organisations and the European Commission.
Actions
supported
- Advice and training in
energy policy
- Analysis and forecasting
in energy matters
- Closer dialogue and
exchanges of information on energy policy, notably through the of
organisation of conferences and seminars
- Support to regional
transboundary co-operation
- Improving the framework
for industrial energy co-operation
No funding
may be granted to investment or research, development and demonstration
projects.
Examples of
projects financed by SYNERGY
- Regional action plan for
"Energy and urban environment in the Mediterranean"
- Haifa conference on energy
co-operation in the Middle East
- Study on the refining
sector in the Mediterranean
- Energy policy dialogue
with the Mediterranean partners
- Co-operation with the
Palestinian institutions in the energy sector
- Conference on energy
investment and networks in the Mediterranean
- Study on the legal and
institutional investment framework for the European energy industry in
Southern and South-east Mediterranean
- Study on the political
risk guarantee of European investments in the energy sector in the
Republics of the former Soviet Union
- Industrial co-operation
between Russia and the European Community in the energy sector
- The activities of the
Black Sea Regional Energy Centre
- Balkan
Energy Interconnection Task Force
- Renewable energy sources
around the Baltic Sea
- Study of the consequences
for the energy sector of accession to the EU of Central and Eastern
European countries
- Baltic
Sea Energy Task Force
- Training of Chinese
engineers and decision makers on energy management and energy efficiency
- China EU energy
co-operation Conferences
- Contribution to the
restructuring of the Chinese coal sector
- Evaluation of the
potential for gas in the Philippines
- European industrialists'
mission to the ASEAN region
- ASEAN electricity
interconnection and deregulation round tables
- Market study of efficient
energy use in Chile and definition of an access strategy for European
companies
- Caracas conference on
strengthening energy co-operation between the European Union and Latin
America
- Visit to the Mercosur of a
delegation of members of Parliament and of European energy sector
industrialists
- Promotion of Energy
Services Company (ESCOs) in Latin America
- Creation of a network of
experts in rural electrification in Africa
- Identification of energy
co-operation projects between the European Community and the countries of
southern Africa.
- Training of energy sector
officials in third countries
- Development of an
international energy co-operation data base
Contacts
SYNERGY Programme
European Commission
Directorate General for Energy and Transport
Directorate A-Unit A4
Rue de Mot, 28
B-1040 Brussels
Belgium
E-mail: synergy@cec.eu.int
Fax : +32-2-2959816
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