2007 (PDF, 2.81 MB) - Belgium

Windmills and solar panels
– examples of renewable
energy sources © BELGA
Overall Belgium supports the ambitious European
approach to energy and climate policy, but it does
ask that the burdens be distributed fairly, taking
into account such factors as the principle of costeffectiveness.
Completing the internal energy market
The action plan agreed at the Spring Summit also included
measures to ensure the efficient operation
and also completion of the internal gas and electricity
market. In September, the European Commission
directed its focus specifically on unbundling energy
generation and transmission. Consideration was also
given to increased cooperation between national
regulators, a charter for energy consumers, increased
transparency on the energy market, and so on.
Finally, continued attention was given to better interconnections
between EU member states and with
third countries.
DGE is actively following up on these aspects of the
energy issue. Belgium believes that there is room
on the internal energy market for far-reaching EU
measures on unbundling and supervision. Belgium is
committed to optimising interconnections – within
the EU and also with third countries. A European
agency needs to help guide investments in production
capacity.
A common external energy policy is essential for
diversification of supply and a stable international
regulatory framework. Chairing the Benelux in the
first half of 2007, Belgium coordinated a joint text
which places the concept of coherence centre-stage:
not only coherence between internal and external
energy policy, but also coherence with the general
external policy of the Union.
Working together for reliable supply
There is an international commitment to find a set of
clear bearings for an effective international energy
policy. The EU member states are working towards
a coherent and focused external energy policy that
makes use of EU internal and external policy instruments
and enables the EU to speak with one voice.
The goal is to ensure reliable flows of affordable and
sustainable energy. One way the EU plans to achieve
this is through creating functioning energy markets
by extending, for example, the Union’s market rules
to the EU’s neighbouring countries. Another way it
plans to do this is by diversifying energy sources,
the geographical origin of energy and transit routes.
Finally, the action plan stresses the importance of
increased cooperation between producer, consumer
and transit countries.
Why? What’s the point?
In meeting the above objectives, an appropriate
balance needs to be struck between
members of the public’s growing concern
about greenhouse gas emissions and climate
change on the one hand and their hankering
for long-term energy security on the other.
In line with the European strategic objectives,
promoting competitiveness, and therefore
employment, must not be neglected either.
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