This strategy will lead to an increased security and diversity of energy supply, and will provide Europe with:
- high-quality, low-cost energy services
- improved industrial competitiveness
- reduced environmental impact, and
- a better quality of life for all Europeans
Decision-making process
How energy research policy is decided and then implemented is outlined in the following sections:
- Energy research in the European Treaties: Energy research is carried out under the terms of the European Treaties. It is needed to support a wide range of EU policies.
- Who decides EU energy research policy?: The European institutions together decide on the Framework Programmes for research and technological development (RTD) as set out in the European Treaties.
- Energy research in the Framework Programmes: Energy research is part of the thematic area ‘sustainable development, global change and ecosystems’ in the current research and technological development (RTD) programme.
- The European Research Area (ERA): The challenge of overcoming the present fragmentation of Europe's research efforts has been taken up. Progress towards a European Research Area has become the reference point for research policy issues in Europe.
