Energy security as a european issue

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Josè Manuel Durao Barroso, who has led the european Commision for the past two years, says he is hopeful and launches proposals to tackle the European energy question. Global warming is the biggest challenge and mutual interest provides the basis for steady relations with world partners. "The analysis carried out by the services of our Competition Directorate was clear: the status quo doesn't work". Josè Manuel Durao Barroso asks Europe to rewrite the rules of the energy market. The recurring black-outs, along with difficult relations with the supplier countries and a state of stickiness in the management of some networks that are still tied to the old monopolies, have convinced Portugal's Barroso, 56, at the helm of the European Commision, for the past two years, to put forward a diverse package of proposals aimed at redrawing the playing field. "It is a difficult dossier with a great impact" acknowledges the former prime minister from lisbon, willingly admitting that the road ahead won't be an easy one. Yet, something happened on january 1 that could have the reform move faster: the European Union calendar put angela Merkel at the helm of the European Union for six months. "We expect progress during the German prsidency" says Barroso. "The package of measures for the energy market and the climate change prepared by the Commision is aimed at sustaining efforts in this direction. There is a broad range of proposals from emissions to renewable energy, to the internal market with network unbundling and a new regulation context. All of this will provide the groundwork for the decisions the member States are expected to take at the European Council in berlin this spring". How to tackle the issue of unstable supply? The first point to guarantee supply is to diversify our partners, which - obviously - doesn't imply protectionist choices. Diversification should concern countries where raw materials come from and the very resources. That is the best way to guarantee supply security, without settingup barries, but through a constructive 360-degree dialogue and bringing about a really open energy market. At times they have charged you with dirigisme. That happened when we talk about controlling energy flows in such a way as to convey it where it's needed in a crunch. But the charge is groundless. When the rules of the game are crystal clear, then the market is there to guarantee transparency and balanced relations. At the member states ready to follow you? I hope they will support the single energy market paln and understand it is the only way for us to have the tools and strength to negotiate with global partners. We cannot strive to talk with one voice to the russians, to algeria or OPEC, and then find us speaking with 27 different voices among us. It is a question of credibility and consistency. The answer, i insist, is the single market. What do you think about energy security?