Parliament committee approves intelligent energy programme but will push for amendment

Brussels, 25 Apr 2003

The European Parliament's industry committee has approved the Commission's proposal for an 'intelligent energy - Europe' programme, which will cover the period 2003 to 2006, and place a greater emphasis on renewable energy and energy efficiency than its predecessor.

This was the second reading of the proposal by the committee, following the Council reaction to amendments proposed by the Parliament after the first reading. Most amendments were accepted by the Council, with the exception of proposals by MEPs to establish a European intelligent energy agency and to create a task force within the Commission to coordinate the various fields of the programme and monitor linkage with other Community policies. The industry committee has now withdrawn its amendments relating to the task force, but will re-table those concerning the setting up of a new agency.

A compromise budget of 200 million euro has been agreed by the institutions. This will be divided between four areas:
- the improvement of energy efficiency (SAVE, 64 million euro);
- the promotion of new and renewable energy sources (ALTENER, 72 million euro);
- energy aspects of transport (STEER, 30 million euro);
- the promotion of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency in developing countries (COOPENER, 34 million euro).

Two of the aims of the programme are to encourage investment in emerging technologies already on the market and to encourage the spread of best practice. Technology options and project results will be monitored in coordination with the Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC).

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