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| Towards a European Energy Community for the 21st Century |
| Europe needs a common energy policy in order to guarantee access for its citizens to energy at reasonable and stable prices; to maintain its industrial competitiveness; to promote sustainable development and the transition to a low-carbon society; and to ensure the security of energy supply for all Europeans. In the light of with these multiple challenges and energy constraints, Notre Europe began a process of reflection on the future of European energy policy, and in regard developed Jacques Delors’s proposal for a "European Energy Community.” To meet all these challenges and to put in place a coherent and integrated single regulatory space for energy in Europe, a new approach aimed at deeper integration and solidarity in the field of energy is required. The most ambitious option, but also the most promising, would be to create a European Energy Community with its own rules and methods specific to the energy field, integrating the economic, political and strategic dimensions. A common energy policy will clearly not be brought about overnight. But Europe cannot afford to wait. Will Europe choose to play a pro-active role in the next industrial revolution, or will it be content to follow the lead set by others? When six European states decided in 1951 to integrate two key sectors of their economies to create a Community, their purpose was to replace conflict with cooperation and antagonism with prosperity. Energy was one of the sectors. Almost sixty years later, energy is still at the top of the political and economic agenda. However, the rules that ensured equal access to common resources no longer exist. Should we not work to reframe them in a manner commensurate with the challenges Europe faces? This would be a way of responding to the concerns of our fellow citizens and their call for a common political project in the field of energy. Notre Europe will be deeply involved in the ongoing debate on the future of European energy policy, and will pursue the debate over the European Energy Community in the months to come with various important public, private, non-governmental, local, national, regional and European stakeholders. Sami ANDOURA  |
| | Towards a European Energy Community: A Policy Proposal |  |  Study by Sami Andoura, Leigh Hancher, Marc Van der Woude
Initiated by Jacques Delors, this report is the harvest of the work of the Task Force of high-level European experts to study the feasibility of a European Energy Community. The report was elaborated by Marc van der Woude and Leigh Hancher as co-chairs and Sami Andoura as rapporteur. (01/04/2010) |  | | | | Presentation to the European Parliament | |  Notre Europe presented its proposal to the European Parliament on the 5th of May 2010 in the presence of Jacques Delors, Jerzy Buzek, Günther Oettinger, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa and the authors of the report. | | | |
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| Agenda |
Notre Europe will pursue in the months to come the debate over the European Energy Community with various important public and private actors on the local, national, and European levels. Several events will be organized in the second half of 2010 and the first semester of 2011.
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| Forthcoming | - Developing a European Grand Strategy for energy
Analysis of how the European Union might develop an overarching energy strategy in its relations with external partners and in its different external policies (CFSP, ENP, trade, development)
- Taxing energy and the environment
Comparative analysis of the different forms of energy and environmental taxation (carbon tax, border tax, corporate tax, etc.) - and the link with the budgetary debate and the question of the Union's own resources - What kind of European energy solidarity?
Research on the possible "operational" implementation of the principle of energy solidarity (Lisbon Treaty) in law and in practice - in addition to the intra-European dimension of energy security (storage, preventive mechanisms and crisis management) | | |
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Notre Europe’s proposal, viewed nearly 10,000 times, has started a substantial European debate in the media and blogs. 
On the invitation of the Finnish Foreign Minister, Notre Europe and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs is organising, Thursday, October 7th, 2010 at Helsinki, an Expert Seminar in order to discuss the European Energy Community, the Nordic experience, regional energy cooperation, and the specific case of the Baltic. 
On the occasion of Libération’s Forum at Lyon on the 24th, 25th, and 26th of September 2010, Notre Europehas organized a debate on the theme “For a European Energy Community” with Elisabeth Guigou, MEP, former Minister, and member of Notre Europe’s Board and Yannick Jadot, MEP and environmental activist. 
Notre Europe in cooperation with the Compagnia di san Paolo organised a conference in Turin on June 30, 2010, on its proposal for a European Energy Community. 
On the 4th of May 2010, Notre Europe organized an expert seminar in order to study the legal feasibility of the European Energy Community as well as the various instruments that would allow for it to be developed. 
Notre Europe’s policy was supported by Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, and Jacques Delors in a joint Declaration on the 5th May 2010. 
On the occasion of the Third Europe Forum in Strasbourg on the 17th of April 2010, Notre Europe organized a discussion group centered around its proposal with the European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger. 
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