COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 17 December 1974 concerning Community energy policy objectives for 1985

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having noted the Commission's Communication of 27 November 1974 "Community energy policy - Objectives for 1985" (1);

Considering the resolution it adopted on 17 September 1974 (2);

Whereas, in accordance with point 10 of that resolution, the Commission will record every six months and the Council will periodically discuss the progress made in the realization of the Community objectives, and in particular the measures taken at Community and national level;

Whereas, at their meeting in Paris on 9 and 10 December 1974, the Heads of Government of the Member States of the Community called upon the Community Institutions to work out and implement a common energy policy as quickly as possible;

Whereas implementation of such a policy involves the drawing up of quantitative joint objectives representing guidelines for national policies and serving as a significant guide for energy producers and consumers in the Community;

Whereas the energy policy objectives of the Community show how much can be achieved by implementing a common policy;

(1) See COM(74) 1960 final, annexed to R/3333/74 (ENER 57) (ATO 177) (CHAR 23). (2) See page 1 of this Official Journal. Whereas each of the Member States should be able to contribute to the attainment of these objectives, according to its resources and to the constraints to which it is subject;

Whereas the continuation of a high degree of Community dependence on energy sources, especially oil, imported from third countries would, under the present and foreseeable conditions on the world market, be such as to jeopardize the economic balance of the Community and economic and social progress ; and whereas it is therefore necessary to reduce this dependence as much as possible;

Considering the prospects held out by the various sources of energy for the attainment of this objective, taking account of the time required to put them into use, of their potential long-term contribution, of the economic conditions for making them available and of the need to develop secure and competitive resources and to ensure the protection of the environment;

Whereas it should be possible to apply coherent guidelines to the various energy resources of the Community while complying with the Treaties;

PART I - GENERAL OBJECTIVES

Paragraph 1

affirms that, on the basis of present prospects within the Member States, the Community's level of dependence on imported energy will reach 50 % by 1985,

Paragraph 2

approves the objective of reducing Community dependence on imported energy to 50 % and if possible to 40 % by 1985 (63 % in 1973),

Paragraph 3 - takes note of the Commission's opinion that the more ambitious objective of 40 % could be attained;

- requests Community institutions to keep the means of achieving this objective under constant review,

Paragraph 4

notes that, if these objectives are to be attained, the Community supply pattern should be as follows by 1985: >PIC FILE= "T0050728">

PART II - SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

Paragraph 5

decides to pursue the following specific objectives: 1. Energy demand A. To reduce the rate of growth of energy consumption for the Community as a whole in order to achieve by 1985 a level 15 % below the January 1973 estimates, bearing in mind that this percentage may be different for the various Member States and without ruling out the possibility of setting specific objectives, depending on circumstances, for saving energy in the shorter term.

B. To alter the pattern of energy consumption by progressively increasing the use of reliable energy sources and relying more and more on electricity as nuclear energy in particular is developed. The Commission feels that in this way electricity would cover 35 % of energy consumption by 1985.

2. Energy supply A. Solid fuels: - To maintain the level of the Community's coal production (180 mtoe by 1985) under satisfactory economic conditions,

- To increase the possibilities of importing coal from third countries (40 mtoe by 1985),

- To raise brown coal and peat production to 30 mtoe.

B. Natural gas: - To step up Community research and production (land and underwater deposits) to obtain at least 175, and if possible 225 mtoe by 1985,

- To secure imports of 95-115 mtoe from third countries.

C. Nuclear energy (1):

- To provide stations with an installed capacity of at least 160 GWe and, if possible, of 200 GWe by 1985.

D. Hydro-electric and geothermic power:

- To establish and develop sites for the production of hydro-electric and geothermic power to raise their contributions to energy supply to 45 mtoe.

E. Oil: - To restrict oil consumption where it can be economically replaced by other energy sources,

- To step up research and Community production (land and underwater deposits) at least 180 mtoe by 1985,

- To cut back imports from third countries to 540 mtoe (640 in 1973) according to national prospects ; the objective proposed by the Commission for other energy sources would enable this amount to be reduced to 420 mtoe. The percentage of imported oil in the total energy requirements would be respectively 38 and 28 % (61 % in 1973) or 75 to 70 % of oil consumption (98 % in 1973).

F. Other sources of energy:

- To ensure by a technological research and development policy that traditional forms of energy are better exploited and, in the long term, replaced by new sources of energy.

Paragraph 6

Requests Member States to take account of these Community objectives when framing their energy policies.

Paragraph 7

Requests the Commission to submit six-monthly reports to it, the first on 30 June 1975, on the progress made towards achieving the Community objectives, and in particular on the measures taken at Community and national level.

Paragraph 8

Requests the Commission to submit proposals for the implementation of this Resolution.

(1) The Netherlands delegation expressed a reservation on this paragraph.