EPP declaration about European Energy Security

On 18th of October the European People Party’s Group of the Committee of the Regions (EPP Group) held a meeting in Kaunas, Lithuania on energy security in the European and the EU  energy market, as well as on the role of local and regional authorities in this regard. The participants of the meeting have discussed about sustainable energy supply, the necessity of assuring affordable energy prices, establishing a common European energy market, as well as the possibilities of connecting the electric and gas networks of European states were also brought into discussion.
Mr. Csaba Borboly, president of Harghita County Council has attended the meeting and pointed out in his declaration the necessity of alternative energy use:
– Europe and its regions have to make serious steps toward establishing energy security, for the reason why it is essential to take into consideration the possibilities of renewable energy production. Even though it is difficult, we have to act, because there is need for taking serious measures, since long-termly speaking the present energy dependency is not sustainable and for this reason we need to seek other energy sources to use – concluded the county council president.
The members of the EPP Group have accepted a declaration with the title European Energy Security, which sustains the necessity of urgently interconnecting the European energy networks and establishing a common energy market. All the more since there is not a unified energy market of the European Union, and because of this, the prices are quite high, equally for citizens, public service suppliers and for industries as well. This further makes worse the current crisis situation, for the reason why the EPP Group thinks that it is important to have solidarity among members states and  to foster the increase of economic competitiveness.
For those interested, the full declaration may be found at the following link:  http://web.cor.europa.eu/epp/AtWork/GroupmeetingsAndSeminars/Documents/Draft%20Declatation_en.pdf.

Miercurea Ciuc, 18th of October 2013