By Brian Johnson - 15th November 2004
Green, Socialist and centre-right MEPs have praised Latvia’s new man for the EU’s energy job Andris Piebalgs after his confident and polished performance in front of the European Parliament.
Piebalgs promised MEPs on the parliament’s industry, energy and research committee.during a three hour grilling, that he would tackle the EU’s energy portfolio “with enthusiasm and determination”.
And with only nine days to master his EU energy remit since being nominated, Piebalgs impressed parliament deputies with a more than adequate understanding of both the technical and political issues of his portfolio.
The former teacher, education minister and Latvian ambassador to the EU told MEPs that EU energy policy was still very much a “work-in-progress”, but that he had already outlined six priority areas, based on the EU’s current green paper looking at security of energy supply.
Top of the Latvian’s list was a better marriage between EU energy priorities and environmental policies.
“Energy policy is not only a question of security of supply. Environmental objectives have to be integrated into EU energy policy,” said Piebalgs.
Piebalgs stressed to MEPs the importance of linking EU energy and research policies, and promised a closer relationship between the two areas with commissioners working together.
“Research programmes are extremely important. I have no doubt that energy efficiency will be one of the priorities of the seventh research framework,” he said.
The Latvian was confident but cautious, and careful not to commit on whether he was a supporter of nuclear energy, a divisive subject within the European Parliament and in a number of member states.
Focussing on strengthening nuclear safety, Piebalgs stressed that “this is not a question of being either for or against the use of this energy source.”
And he frequently reminded MEPs that responsibility for commissioning and running nuclear power stations belonged to member states, not the European Commission.
He was also cautious on relations with Russia which exports natural gas to the EU.
A politically delicate issue in his home country Latvia, Piebalgs told MEPs that he would promote “good relations” with producer countries.
Pushing an agenda strong on reducing energy demand and promoting renewable sources, Piebalgs pressed a number of right buttons with MEPs.
The committee members warming to the commissioner-designate, praised his political as well as technical command of the energy portfolio, and a number of MEPs told the Latvian that they were impressed with his performance.
“You have done your homework, the Greens are quite impressed,” said Green deputy, David Hammerstein Mintz.
Initial responses after the hearing from the European Parliament’s two largest political groups, the centre–right EPP and the Socialist group were positive, with both groups looking to support the Latvian.
Piebalgs polished performance means he “is probably more a commissioner rather than a commissioner-designate now,” said a delighted commission official.
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