Govt. analyses EU energy union plans

The comment came on Tuesday at a meeting of the Parliamentary EU Committee and after last week’s move by Brussels to announce its ‘Energy Union Package’, which envisages a “fundamental transformation of Europe’s energy system”.

While the package accounts for greater energy security of the 28-nation bloc and greater integration of the energy market, it does not foresee joint fuel purchases.

In Warsaw, Tomczykiewicz told MPs that the Polish government’s stand on the proposed package will be on the basis of national priorities, such as the construction of key infrastructure for industry, gas storage and energy grids, as well as the mechanisms under which the EU’s plans for so-called ‘energy solidarity’ would be put into motion.

“It is with satisfaction that Poland acknowledges the European Commission’s proposal for an energy union which takes into account Poland’s reuqests which were put forward by PM Donald Tusk last year,” Tomczykiewicz said.

“The results of a European Council meeting on 19-20 March will be crucial for the energy union framework,” he underlined.

The conceptual idea for a pan-European energy union was first put forward by Tusk last year after Ukraine became gripped with crisis following the Maidan revolution which saw the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovich, with the worry that there may be a problem with gas deliveries from Russia as a result.

“Taking into account the danger of potential gas crises, we should construct more effective mechanisms for ‘gas solidarity’ in the event of a crisis in gas deliveries,” Tusk emphasised in March last year. (jb)

Source: PAP