Europe attempts to curb energy supply woes (oil dependency)

[Dover]

Europe attempts to curb energy supply woes
Over the past few days, some EU member states have come to the realization that their dependence on imported energy is no longer something they can remedy on their own.

By Ahto Lobjakas for RFE/RL (11/01/07)


EU leaders were visibly shocked by the unannounced stoppage of oil supplies on 7-8 January from the Druzhba pipeline that pumps Russian oil to Europe via Belarus. Six EU member states were affected: Germany, Poland, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.

Russia, Belarus criticized
The president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, today reiterated his scathing criticism of Russia and Belarus.

"The cut in oil supplies from Russia is unacceptable," Barroso said. "It is unacceptable that supply or transit countries interrupt the flow of energy to the countries that are consuming the energy without prior consultation. This raises a problem, a real problem, of credibility."..cont'd

http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?ID=17106

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EU plans to cut fuel imports

Bold proposal to cut CO2

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The European Union on Wednesday announced plans to lower energy consumption, develop renewable sources such as wind power and biofuels and increase research into cutting carbon emissions from fuels already in use, particularly coal. The ambitious proposals seek to deter growing dependence on oil and gas imports and curb the emissions blamed for climate change.
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Europe must embrace a low-carbon economy and lead the world into a postindustrial revolution.

Those proposals have taken on new urgency as Europe has seen its oil and gas supplies disrupted by disputes between Russia -- which provides one-quarter of its natural gas -- and the nations that the supplies pass through on their way to Germany, Poland and other countries.

"Europe must lead the world into a new ... postindustrial revolution, the development of a low-carbon economy," Barroso said. "We need new policies to face a new reality."

The package reflects a renewed sense of purpose evident in the EU during the past year, after a period of disarray caused by the rejection of the bloc's proposed constitution by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

Climate change is at the center of the new policy, stressing the need to slash carbon emissions blamed for global warming -- a matter of dispute between Europe and the U.S. Barroso said he had talked to President Bush and congressional leaders about the issue.

"We are not speaking about European warming, we are speaking about global warming," he said. "We need the United States with us; they are after all the biggest polluter in the world."

..cont'd

http://www.newsobserver.com/104/story/531040.html

[jamesinca]

1. Good, I am glad to see they are doing this

Hopefully the rest of the world will follow.