91998E0014

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0014/98 by Gordon Adam (PSE) to the Council (28 January 1998)

Subject: Response of the Council to the Greenpeace paper on energy and the environment

Will the Council state what response the Luxembourg Presidency gave to the Greenpeace paper on energy and the environment, which called on:

'The EU to develop policies to limit further exploitation of all existing oil and gas reserves in the European Union and European Union territories ...

... prevent the exploitation and exploration of oil and gas in the European Union and non-European Union territories ...

... phase out the production and use of coal as an energy source.'

If the Council did not respond to this specific point, would it please do so?

Answer (7 April 1998)

The Council would point out that it does not adopt positions on documents submitted to it outside the institutional framework.

The Council would confirm that it considers the relationship between energy and the environment a matter of great importance and a key factor in energy policy choices. For that reason it has given the issue consistent consideration on the basis of the Commission's communications and proposals.

In that context it recently adopted, on 18 December 1997, a Resolution on a Community strategy to promote combined heat and power ((OJ C 4, 8.1.1998, p.1. )).

Furthermore, the Council is continuing its discussions on the basis of the Commission's White Paper on renewable sources of energy - a Community Strategy and Action Plan. At its meeting on 11 May 1998 the Council is to hold a public debate devoted to energy and the environment.

It is also giving careful study to the Commission communication on a multiannual framework programme for actions in the energy sector, which tackles all the issues relating to Community actions in the energy sphere.