European High Level Policies

The importance of creating an energy union, extending sanctions against Russia and counteracting Moscows propaganda are the issues discussed by the EU leaders on the first day of the summit in Brussels.

România Internațional, 20.03.2015, 13:39

The leaders of the 28 EU countries, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis included, discussed at the Spring European Council in Brussels about the importance of creating a European energy union, likely to limit energy imports and the EU’s dependency on Russian gas. This project is seen as a priority by the EU, in the context of its tense relationship with Russia. According to the Radio Romania’s correspondent in Brussels, all gas contracts signed by member states must be in line with EU law, more transparent and should not negatively impact Europes energy security.

The President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, has explained at the summit that, because they depend only on certain suppliers, some of them dominant and unreliable, such as Russia, European states are facing the risk of having their energy supply routes blocked. In his pinion, on the short term, the EU should diversify its oil and gas suppliers as much as possible, especially in southeastern Europe, and on the long run, they should reduce their energy imports. Schulz has pointed out that creating an Energy Union is crucial to the Union’s energy security and also to supporting Ukraine.

According to the President of the European Parliament, the European Commission estimates that 1 trillion euros will have to be invested in the EU energy sector by 2020 and the amount will have to be spent wisely, so as to ensure economic growth and create jobs. Romania supports the idea of an energy union, President Klaus Iohannis has said, because it is likely to create important advantages for the member countries. Therefore, some of the priorities refer to creating a real domestic energy market, capitalizing in a more efficient manner on the domestic energy sources, diversifying energy suppliers and supply routes and developing an infrastructure that should improve connection among EU countries, Iohannis said.

Also on Thursday the EU leaders agreed to keep sanctions against Russia in place until the end of the year. The European Council President, Donald Tusk, has said the decision is meant to ensure the total implementation of the Minsk agreements. Moreover, Donald Tusk has warned that the EU is ready to take additional measures against Moscow, if needed. The EU leaders also stressed the need to challenge Russias ongoing campaign of public disinformation about the conflict in Ukraine. An action plan in this respect is to be presented at the EU summit in June.