The
third annual meeting of the Fossil Fuels Forum that starts today,
will focus on solutions for fossil fuels with respect to the
fight against climate change, security of supply and the external
dimension of the EU energy policy. The event will bring together
representatives of energy companies, Member States and candidate
countries, the European Commission and other interested
stakeholders.
"I have no doubt that this year's plenary session will
provide us with valuable input from stakeholders, which will
subsequently help us shape our energy policy and find a place for
fossil fuels in our fight against climate change" said Energy
Commissioner Piebalgs.
The working parties of the Berlin Forum met several
times in 2007 to discuss the key challenges for fossil fuels:
sustainability and security of supply. The plenary meeting will
now build on the outcome of these working parties in order to
provide input for the Commission's future actions in the
field.
Participants will also discuss the Commission's
upcoming initiatives in the area of fossil fuels. The Commission
is preparing a set of measures to support the early demonstration
and subsequent deployment of CO2 capture and storage
(CCS) technologies in power generation from fossil fuels. As
fossil fuels account for about half of the EU's electricity
production as well as around 40% of its CO2 emissions,
their future in the energy mix depends on a drastic reduction of
their carbon footprint. CCS technologies represent a solution in
this respect, provided national administrations and industry take
the necessary measures to remove existing legal and economic
barriers.
The Commission is also preparing initiatives to
strengthen the EU's security of supply in fossil fuels. Analyses
of the current system of security oil stocks point to a number of
weaknesses that could be removed in a future legislative proposal
put forth by the Commission. Input from Stakeholders during the
Berlin Forum will remain crucial for the success of such an
initiative and for a similar initiative regarding the security
gas stocks in Europe.
The Fossil Fuels Forum is a European Commission
initiative that aims to improve communication and the exchange of
information on fossil fuels matters between the Commission, the
Member States, market stakeholders and energy experts. The
two-day event will be hosted by the European Commission in
cooperation with the German Federal Ministry of Economics and
Technology.
