| Angela Merkel's government will invite the G8 summit to discuss energy in 2007 The intra-German energy summit, which ended in Berlin late Tuesday, kicked off the writing of the country's energy strategy until 2020. Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel expects to generally complete the development of this document by the second half of 2007. The deadline, as stated in the materials of the federal government, was set in connection with Germany's presidency next year in the EU and the G8 (as you know, the G8 summit in St. Petersburg this year is also dedicated to energy security). According to statements by the current German leadership, deepening international cooperation in the energy sector “is the basis for ensuring energy security” of the country.
Frau Merkel sees the main tasks of her government in the field of energy in reducing Germany’s dependence on energy imports, curbing rising prices for electricity and gas for end consumers, as well as effective measures to protect the environment. All this must be brought into a state of “reasonable balance”. "We have cleared the way for investment and new technologies, which are both a major boost to economic growth and employment," she said. Energy companies prefer the language of specific figures: by 2012, the industry plans to invest over 30 billion euros in the construction of new power plants and power transmission networks, and up to 40 billion euros will be allocated to the development of renewable energy sources. Three working groups will be created at the interdepartmental level - to study international aspects, national security of energy supply, as well as develop measures for innovation and increasing energy efficiency. The result of all this innovative energy policy will be, as Frau Merkel put it, “energy in one piece” - in other words, the interests of both large energy concerns and the federal government will be spelled out in the strategy.
Another important result of the summit in the office of the Federal Chancellor is that the current coalition government of Germany will maintain its course towards a gradual exit from nuclear energy. Despite the obvious opposition to this course from the largest German energy concerns, Angela Merkel and her government have so far remained faithful to their coalition agreement signed last fall. Yuri Shpakov, Berlin |
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