| Author (Person) | McLauchlin, Anna |
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| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.11, No.31, 8.9.05 |
| Publication Date | 08/09/2005 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Anna McLauchlin Date: 08/09/05 European Commission officials will meet on Monday (12 September) to discuss the effects of a surge in oil prices and how they should respond. The meeting follows an initial presentation by Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs on Tuesday (6 September) when he admitted that there were "no miracles" that could reduce prices, but produced a five-point plan to help cushion the blow for the EU. A Commission spokesperson said that in recent meetings individual commissioners had highlighted the need to address the effect rising oil prices would have on their portfolios. Joe Borg, the fisheries commissioner, had been vocal about the adverse consequences for the fishing industry and Mariann Fischer Boel, commissioner for agriculture, expressed support for fuel alternatives such as biofuels. The commissioners' chiefs of staff will meet on Monday to discuss strategy. Officials from the EU's tax, transport and industry departments are also expected to attend. When Piebalgs presented an oil 'action plan' to his fellow commissioners in Strasbourg he recommended increased co-ordination with producer countries and more regular meetings of the EU Oil Supply Group. Piebalgs said that more effort should be made to reduce energy demand and dependency on oil. EU finance ministers are meeting in Manchester tomorrow and Saturday (9-10 September) where oil will be one of the main issues on the agenda amid national discontent over prices. A British lobby group has threatened to block all UK refineries from Wednesday (14 September) if fuel taxes do not come down. Yesterday (7 September) Belgian lorry drivers gave their finance minister Didier Reynders 48 hours to resolve the crisis and threatened to begin blocking roads from Monday (12 September). Article anticipates a meeting, on 12 September 2005, of The European Commissioners' Chiefs of Staff to discuss the effects of a surge in oil prices and adequate responses. This followed a presentation by the European Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, of an oil 'action plan' on 6 September in which he recommended increased co-ordination with producer countries and more regular meetings of the EU Oil Supply Group. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Energy |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
