Villepin calls for EU energy tsar, summit with energy exporters

Sep 25, 2006, 15:17 GMT

Brussels - French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin on Monday called for the appointment of a special European Union representative to deal with global energy issues and said a special summit with oil and gas exporters should be organized next year.

Villepin, who met European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels, also brushed off suggestions from French presidential hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy for salvaging the failed EU constitution by agreeing on a 'mini treaty' which would not have to be put to the vote.

The key was to revive popular confidence in Europe, said Villepin, noting that several EU governments had 'misgivings' about Sarkozy's proposals.

The French Prime Minister said the EU should consider the 'strategic importance' of Turkey during current accession negotiations with Ankara but warned that the bloc's membership conditions must be fully applied.

'Europe has to respond to the concerns of its citizens,' said Villepin, adding that energy security was an important priority for many ordinary Europeans.

The EU should 'speak with one voice' on crucial energy issues by appointing a special envoy who would also 'make things move in the right direction' in the energy sector in Europe, he added.

Villepin also called for a high-level energy summit with the EU's main suppliers during the upcoming German EU presidency in 2007.

This would bring together the 25 EU member states with Russia, Norway and Algeria, as well as countries from the Caspian basin and Central Asia.

In a reference to unpopular EU moves to tear down national barriers in the energy sector, Villepin said the bloc needed a strategy to ensure the emergence of 'European champions, based on national champions.'

Barroso did not respond to Villepin's proposals but diplomats say the EU chief believes a new EU energy tsar is not needed since the bloc has a commissioner responsible for energy issues.

Paris and Brussels are also at loggerheads over the commission's determination to crack down on energy state monopolies.

The French government has defended a proposed merger between Suez and Gaz de France - which has effectively blocked a rival takeover bid by Eni of Italy - as being good for European energy independence, especially in view of the bloc's dependence on Russian gas exports.

Barroso said the commission - which acts as EU merger regulator - would issue its final decision on the proposed Suez-GDF merger before 17 November.

'A fruitful dialogue is taking place ... we have discussed solutions which might perhaps move in the right direction,' said Barroso.