Wednesday, the EU Commission presented its proposals for energy union. Aftenposten has access to the document presented in Brussels. In the document, the Commission has not followed up the Polish proposal to coordinate the purchase of gas. This proposal could have squeezed Norwegian gas price ratio.
The aim of such an arrangement was to ensure that EU countries get cheap gas and increase security of supply.
– This result is we very pleased. Our argument for a market solution has won forward. We believe this is also the best from the perspective of supply, says EEA Minister Vidar Helgesen Aftenposten.
Won good help
Norway have not been alone oppose the coordination of procurement, which in its time was launched by Poland.
The man who fronted the proposal on behalf of Poland was Donald Tusk, who is now president of the EU Council.
This proposal emerged about 10 years after the European Union with the EEA Agreement in hand forced Norway to stop coordinated sale of gas from the Norwegian continental shelf.
Internally, the EU was also considerable resistance, because this could conflict with the whole idea of a free energy market.
The package presented by the Commission comes to political treatment on government and government managers meeting in March. Until then, Norway, according Helgesen, maintain pressure on the EU to prevent these thoughts do not come in the back door.
It’s about big money. The value of Norwegian gas exports in January was 24.1 billion according to Statistics Norway. Almost all Norwegian gas is sold to the EU.
Aimed at Russia
The European Commission sees in his proposal not entirely away from the Polish concern. It can be opened for a type of voluntary cooperation between EU companies in specific cases. But it determines that this will happen within the framework of the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
The reason for these formulations is the Russian state company Gazprom dominates EU market in the east. Through various price agreements plays those buyers out against each other.
Energy Security
It’s supply of energy which is the mainstay of the document that will be presented on Wednesday.
Norway specifically mentioned, because we are the EU’s second largest supplier of oil and gas. The document emphasized that the EU will build on the partnership with Norway and the EU will continue to integrate Norway in its internal energy policy.
Strengthen cooperation
This document is a first step on the road to strengthen EU cooperation in the energy field. It is emphasized that one must invest heavily on research and development of renewable energy. Where an not the same help of high oil prices. To succeed, the EU put in place a system for trading of emission allowances works so that it becomes more expensive to pollute.
EU warns strong commitment to the development of infrastructure internally to get the internal market to work. This applies especially to save gas, improve pipeline system and upgrading of the electricity network. In addition, the union already adopted ambitious targets to save energy.
See also:
The EU will have Norwegian gas
Juncker listening
The EU is not particularly hot in UD
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