Press Release: Oil supplies: the Commission defines a strategy for the European Union

The European Commission adopted a Communication on 4 October 2000 on the European Union's oil supplies, which was to be submitted to the Biarritz European Council of 13th-14th October. This document, which follows the debate launched by the Commission during 2000, presents a detailed analysis of the current situation and does not envisage any significant short-term fall in the price of oil per barrel. After describing the principal fields of action and priorities for the coming years, it sets out the broad outlines of a European common action. “I believe that on such vital questions, the European Union has to follow policies which are both more daring and more consistent. Issues relating to oil supplies should not be treated individually: Europe must do more to coordinate and develop an overall strategy”, President Prodi stated. “We have to progress from words towards action. Today we lack alternatives to energy dependence. Europe cannot avoid a wide-ranging discussion on its energy supplies and its transport policy”. Vice-President Loyola de Palacio, in charge of transport and of energy, added “The European Commission intends to steer this debate and in the coming weeks will present its proposals for a more coherent energy and transport policy”.