European Commission's President Barroso Reminds Member States of the Agenda for the 22 May European Council

On 22 May 2013, the European Council will meet to discuss two main topics: energy and tax fraud and evasion. Communication has become more and more sophisticated around these meetings, and the Commission has definitely done its homeworks.

First, President Barroso addressed a letter to the Members of the European Council, recalling the main points of the agenda for the meeting (see MEMO/13/416 dated 08/05/2013). Second, the Commission services published a background note on the two main issues to be discussed. A regards energy, the key elements that the Commission intends to push forward on the agenda of the European Council are presented in the note entitled "Energy challenges and policy" 

and are as follows:

• Differences and complementarities between the different energy mixes of the Member States which "all are facing similar challenges". The Commission is of the view that the Member States "can tackle these challenges better together", which is a clear call upon more cooperation.
• Action as to energy prices which are "high" but also "differ considerably across the EU" due to "a fragmented market".
• Address the "failure to tap into the benefits of energy efficiency", and which affects negatively businesses and consumers who "pay more than they need for their energy suppliers"
• A core condition to the success is the "completion of a fully-functioning, interconnected and integrated internal energy market", which has been announced for 2014.
• Another urgent condition is the complete "transposition and implementation of the third energy package"
• In order to move forward, the EU and the Member States must find a manner to "facilitate sustainable private and public investment... in our energy infrastructure"
• Last but certainly not least, the EU "must continue to strengthen our internal and external diversification of suppliers".

Due to the ling list of items, one may expect some prioritization in the final Conclusions.

The official agenda for the 22 May European Council is available here.

The final conclusions of the European Council on 22 May 2013 will be published on this blog as soon as made public.