"I warmly welcome today's Communication from the European Commission on 'Security of energy supply and international cooperation.' The publication is a step in the right direction in improving the functioning of the internal market and increasing energy security. With the impetus provided by the Polish EU Council Presidency and with a constructive contribution of the European Parliament, this is the EU's opportunity to develop a truly proactive energy diplomacy. Moreover, I am extremely glad that the European Commission took on board the Parliament's recommendations from my 2007 Report on 'Towards a Common European Foreign Policy on Energy'. The European Parliament was the first EU Institution to call for the development of a true common European foreign policy on energy. The idea was to create a solidarity mechanism to allow the EU to act effectively in crisis situations. With an overwhelming majority, the EP called for more of the Community method and one EU voice in energy security policy", said Jacek Saryusz-Wolski MEP, Head of the Polish Delegation of the EPP Group in the European Parliament.

The most important policy recommendations in today's EC Communication include:

• focus on the internal market as the Union's main leverage and asset in energy relations with third countries;
• from now on, the Commission will be able to verify the compatibility with the internal market rules of all present and future energy agreements between Member States and third countries;
• after a successful involvement of the EC in the Polish gas negotiations with Russia, the EC will offer its assistance in any future energy contract negotiations of Member States;
• the strengthening and enlargement of the European Energy Community - the legislative harmonisation of energy rules with its neighbours as a key tool of EU energy diplomacy;
• securing the place of Ukraine as the major transit country for the European gas supply;
• a new vision of the EU-Russia partnership in the field of energy - the EU will seek to promote European regulation in its relations with Russia, as with any other third country partner.

The EPP Group has always been a promoter of stronger EU energy policy especially in its external dimension.

"We are making progress on the internal dimension of energy policy, but as tectonic changes in energy geopolitics are taking place before our eyes, we also need external policy tools to face them. Today's Communication can strengthen and provide the EU with adequate instruments to become a global actor in energy geopolitics", concluded Mr Saruysz-Wolski.

For further information:
Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI [1] MEP, Tel: +32-2-2875371
Katarzyna Klaus [2], EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-484-138359

Notes to Editors:

The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 264 Members.