Translation of "Politique énergétique concernant les régions pionnières " (French → English) :

13. Notes that differing geographical conditions make it impossible to apply a ‘one-size-fits-all’ energy policy to all regions; notwithstanding the criteria for joint action and while aware of the need to comply with EU policy frameworks, believes that each European region should be allowed to pursue an individual plan geared to its situation and economy, developing those sustainable energy sources which can fulfil the Energy Roadmap 2050 goals most effectively, and recalls that renewable energy generation in particular has a key role to play in terms of development and employment, in both rural and non-rural areas; calls, therefore, ...[+++]on all regions to develop and implement energy strategies, and to consider including energy in their research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation; believes that, on the basis of such specialisation, the EU should measure European energy objectives on an EU-wide scale in place of national targets;

6. Emphasises the key role of regional and local authorities in achieving the energy efficiency goals and therefore supports a multi-level, decentralised approach to energy policy and energy efficiency, including the Covenant of Mayors and the Smart Cities Initiative; underlines the importance of the bottom-up EU energy policy approach for cities and regions that aims to promote clean, energy-efficient investment; stresses that aligning the future Cohesion Policy with the Europe 2020 Strategy would provide a key delivery mechanism t ...[+++]o promote local and regional development that would bring about smart, economically competitive, sustainable growth in the Member States, regions and cities;

The priorities approved by the European Council in March 2007 for an international energy policy, especially relationships with producer countries, include intensifying the EU’s relationship with Central Asia, the Caspian and the Black Sea regions with a view to further diversifying sources and routes, and intensifying energy relationships with Algeria, Egypt and other producing countries in the Mashreq/Maghreb region.

20. Specifically supports the possibility of the funds intervening in the sphere of sustainable energy policy and specifically welcomes the use of all renewable energy in electricity, heating, cooling and transport; calls for support for energy saving and efficiency; stresses the importance and the potential, especially for SMEs, of the use and generation of renewable energy and the development of energy efficiency technologies, with their special role in local and regional development potential;

20. Specifically supports the possibility of the Funds intervening in the sphere of sustainable energy policy and specifically welcomes the use of all renewable energy in electricity, heating, cooling and transport; calls for a support for energy saving and efficiency; stresses the importance and the potential, especially for SME's of the use and generation of renewable energy and the development of energy efficiency technologies with their special role for local and regional development potential;

Moves towards a more interconnected and integrated energy system in South East Asia, and possibly an ASEAN-China free trade area, increase the EU interest in policy exchanges and the establishment of a good trade and investment climate.