EU to Boost Energy Coordination

European Union leaders have given the go-ahead for a common energy policy to be drawn up. A leading goal of the summit was to define how EU countries can coordinate energy policy, by negotiating jointly with suppliers such as Russia or by helping any member country suffering from a sudden supply cut-off. During the summit, member states agreed on the broad principles of a common energy policy, such as the opening of markets, the improvement of energy infrastructure, a common external energy policy and the promotion of renewable energy.

Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, said: "I'm very delighted that the leaders are backing our call for an energy policy for Europe, that it makes sense to have a common strategy for Europe." Barroso said he would meet the national coordinators - dubbed "Mr. Lisbon" - next Tuesday to discuss further steps in pushing the Lisbon strategy, which was put forward in EU's Lisbon summit in 2000. Barroso told reporters that the start-up of EU common energy policy was the greatest achievement of the gathering and would be remembered in the history of European integration: "I think one day when you write the history of European integration, we will say energy policy for Europe was born on March 23 and 24, 2006"

Wolfgang Schussel, the Austrian chancellor, whose country holds the bloc's rotating presidency, said a lot of work remained but decisions made on Thursday would lead to a total change of EU energy policy within the next decade. He said more energy cooperation would leave it up to each national government to choose a mix of energy.

Angela Merkel told reporters the leaders had chosen not to opt for a formal energy policy - which would have meant more powers for the European Commission - but to achieve more coordination "regarding security of supply or in negotiations with our partners who provide energy in the shape of oil and gas."

In a conclusion issued at the end of their two-day summit, the EU leaders agreed to carry on with the revised Lisbon strategy and stick to their adopted national reform plans which would be monitored and evaluated annually by the EU executive European Commission.