European Commission Vice-President for the Energy Union Maros Sefcovic said that improving Europe’s diplomatic relationships with other nations is fundamental to strengthening Europe’s energy security.
Sefcovic spoke on Monday at the High level Conference on EU Energy Policy and Competitiveness in Brussels and said that improving the political and economic relationships with oil-producing nations will be a priority of the European Commission in its mission to further develop Europe’s energy economy.
“I believe this should help us negotiate better and more balanced market conditions,”Sefcovicsaid. “We are the biggest energy consumer in the world. We have to lay down a more assertive energy diplomacy. We have to trust each other a little bit more.”
The Slovak commissioner made his comments after visiting Ukraine on Friday to check on the progress of the recent agreement the European Union helped broker between Russia and Ukraine that reopened gas flows from Russia to Ukraine over the winter for the price of $760 million. In his statement on Monday,Sefcovicreferenced both Ukraine and the instability in the Middle East as the impetus for a renewed commitment to energy security via diplomacy.
In conjunction with opendialoguewith third nations,Sefcovicalso said he wanted to institute internal energy policies that promote a stronger relationship with Europe’s global energy partners.Sefcovicsaid he wants Europe to import natural gas as a continental entity and to institute a “no surprise” clause in Europe’s energy policy, which would make it necessary for Europe to inform its neighbors of new policies so they can prepare for potential market changes.
“I think we should do our best to explore common purchasing of gas,”Sefcovicsaid. “I know we are exploring this issue and approaching gradually, but I think we should really try. We are the world’s biggest customer, we import a lot of gas and I think we should be treated like it. I think this will help in that respect.”
The call to improve Europe’s global standing goes beyond the tangible benefits of energy security.Sefcovicsaid the improved focus on energy diplomacy should extend to the United States, China and other major economies ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015, where nations across the globe will attempt to create a legally binding international climate objective.
“We should make every diplomatic effort to call on our global partners to meet us there and succeed in Paris,”Sefcovicsaid. “It’s not only required by us and required by our planet, but it is also required by the industry.”
“I believe that our strong reputation when it comes to renewables and deployment of new technologies will serve as a window case for other nations. We can say, ‘Europe is here, ready to help, give advice and show other nations the path.”
Sefcovic said he believes that the moment is ripe for the European Union to take big strides towards improving Europe’s energy economy and energy sustainability.
“The major difference between today and two or three years ago is that now we have the political support and we have political momentum driven by the interests of the top leaders in Europe,” Sefcovic said. “I think we know now what to do and how to do it, and I think we should refer to one sports company in that all that’s left is to just do it.”
http://www.neurope.eu/article/sefcovic-demands-stronger-energy-diplomacy