TRAN Committee adopts opinion on Green Paper on Energy

Publication date: 10 October 2006

The Committee adopted an opinion for the ITRE Committee on the Commission's Green Paper on Energy Strategy for the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy. The Green Paper indicates the probable direction of Commission policy and is a precursor to legislative proposals.

The opinion stressed the importance of the transport sector as a consumer of energy and its heavy dependence on imported fuels, principally gasoline. It called for research, technological advance and alternative fuels to be progressed as means to rationalise energy consumption in the sector, reduce import dependency and limit environmental damage.

The Committee supported the further development of the rail freight sector and the improvement of load factors for freight generally. However, the Committee rejected an amendment to tax aviation fuel.

Next step:
- Adoption in ITRE Committee foreseen in November 2006