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The European Commission Presents its 2010 Working Programme to the Parliament


The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durao Barroso, has presented yesterday, 20 April, the Commission Work Programme 2010 to the European Parliament during the parliamentary plenary session in Strasbourg.

The Work Programme contains similar elements than the ones announced in 2009 and which were also analysed on this blog in the following post: "What to expect from the re-launched of the single market" (22.10.2009). The Work Programme 2010 defines 34 strategic initiatives to be adopted in 2010 (Annex I) and a list of possible strategic and priority initiatives for 2010 and beyond (Annex II).

Core Policy Orientations
In relation to energy and sustainable development, several policy elements were mentionned in President Barroso's speech (some parts only available in French):
  • Financial crisis and financial markets regulation: "Notre toute première priorité doit rester de sortir de la crise et de jeter les bases d'une croissance durable et génératrice d'emplois."
  • Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth: "Fighting climate change will remain a top priority on our agenda, both internally and globally. The energy and transport esctors will get particular attention this year - both critical to turn the challenge of a sustainable Europe into our competitive advantage."
  • Single Market: "The Single Market, as a home market of 500 million consumers underpinning jobs, competitiveness, affordable prices and consumer choice, will continue to constitute the backbone of the European economy." [...] "Bringing the Single market into the 21st century is a priority for the Commission that will make new proposals by 2012. This is also the subject of a report which I have asked Mario Monti to prepare and which will be presented very soon."
  • Energy geopolitics: "The Commission will also be tackling the challenges of energy geopolitics, in order to ensure safe, secure, sustainable and affordable energy."
  • Millemiun Development Goals: "...pursue the international development agenda and propose an EU action plan in the run up to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals Summit. [...] June European Council to prepare a common EU position in view of the High Level United Nations Review meeting in September on the MDGs, which aims at the adoption of a Global Action Plan for reaching the MDGs by 2015."

Strategic Initiatives in Details

Among the 34 strategic initiatives for 2010, and purely for energy matters, should be noted a consistent Energy Infrastructure Package, consisting of both legislative and non-legislative measures (4th quarter of 2010):

  • Communication on Energy infrastructure development for the 2020/2030 horizon;
  • Commission staff working paper on energy infrastructure;
  • Communication on the preparation of a blue print for offshore grids in the Northern Seas of Europe;
  • Report on the state of play of smart grids.
  • For more details on each initiatives, see the Work Programme itself.

Among the possible strategic initiatives for 2010 and beyond count:

  • Communication on Revised Energy Efficiency Action Plan;
  • Energy Action Plan 2011-2020;
  • Roadmap for low carbon energy system by 2050;
  • Communication on implementing the biofuel sustainability scheme;
  • Proposal on transparenct and integrity of wholesale market trading;
  • Proposal revising the nuclear waste directive;
  • Communication on Nuclear Energy - Update of the Nuclear Illustrative Programme (PINC).
Sources:
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