EC president-designate sees Kyoto as priority for EU

Brussels (Platts)--13Jul2004

The Kyoto climate change protocol should be a "major priority" for the
European Union, the president-designate of the European Commission, Jose
Manuel Durao Barroso, told members of the European Parliament's socialist
party Tuesday. "We have to do our best to ensure the other industrial powers
join us in the Kyoto protocol," said Barroso a former Portuguese prime
minister. "But we shouldn't wait for them." He said the EU should take the
lead but Kyoto would be much more successful if the EU could engage with
countries such as Russia, the US and China. China's path to industrial
development was "a matter of concern," said Barroso. There were high hopes
that Russia would ratify Kyoto, and Barroso is waiting to see what happens in
the next US election. If the EP approves Barroso, the member states's choice,
as EC president Wednesday, he will set the broad policy lines to be followed
by the EC in the five years from November 2004. He will also decide on the
EC's internal organization and commissioners' portfolios.

The EU should work with all administrations to "engage them in a more
ambitious environmental policy," Barroso said. "We have to put more money and
effort into the environment...An advanced environmental policy is a source of
competitiveness for the EU." Environmental concerns should be addressed by
ensuring that the EU's carbon dioxide emissions trading scheme starts as
planned on Jan 1, 2005 and that EU members "respect rigorously" their Kyoto
commitments to reduce emissions. Energy policy went "hand in hand" with
environment, Barroso said. "The EU's activities should focus on maintaining a
diversity of supply, while pushing for greater energy efficiency and energy
saving." The EU had also to work with its international partners to secure its
long-term energy future, he said. "I think an effective, efficient energy
market based on diverse sources is important if we want to make sure that the
EU continues to develop in a sustainable way and that its environment
continues to improve."

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