In a bid to further strengthen energy cooperation between the EU and Norway, European Commission energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs and Norwegian minister of petroleum and energy Odd Roger Enoksen have reaffirmed their mutual interest in consultations on key energy issues during a recent meeting.
Discussions during the meeting were focused around the Green Paper on a European Strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy, and the future of oil and gas in the European Economic Area.
Both parties underlined the importance of ensuring that the energy dialogue between the EU and Norway reflects the interests of energy producers and consumers alike.
Commissioner Piebalgs also presented the main initiatives of the new action plan on Energy Efficiency due to be approved by the Commission at the end of September 2006. The overall goal of the action plan is to save 20% of the EU’s primary energy consumption by 2020. The two sides agreed to strengthen co-operation and to share best practice in this area, while confirming that greater use of renewable energy is a priority for both.
With regards to energy technology, Minister Enoksen and Commissioner Piebalgs agreed on the importance of pursuing technological developments in the energy sector, for example related to the seventh EU Framework Programme for R&D currently under discussion.
In working towards a coherent and coordinated energy policy, the EU aims to build on the significant potential for improving energy cooperation with Norway said Commissioner Piebalgs. Completing the internal energy market is a major policy target of the EU and Norway can play a key role in this process
Norway is a major exporter of oil and gas to the European Union and an integral part of the EU internal energy market through the European Economic Area Agreement. This calls for close relations added Minister Enoksen.