COM(2009)0438

PURPOSE: to approve the 'Terms of Reference for the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation' (IPEEC) and the 'Memorandum concerning the hosting by the International Energy Agency of the Secretariat to the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation' by the European Community.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2009/954/EC on the signing and conclusion of the "Terms of Reference for the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation" (IPEEC) and the "Memorandum concerning the hosting by the International Energy Agency of the Secretariat to the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation" by the European Community.

CONTENT: at the initiative of the European Commission, in June 2008, members of the G8, China, India and South Korea and the Commission decided to establish an International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) which is to facilitate those actions that yield high energy efficiency gains. IPEEC will provide a forum for discussion, consultation and exchange of information. IPEEC is open to other countries and intergovernmental organisations.

On 24 May 2009, the Terms of Reference for the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation were signed in Rome by 12 States, including four Member States of the European Community.

The Terms of Reference describe the cooperative activities of the IPEEC, establish its organisation, define the criteria for potential new members and contain general provisions regarding i.a. the funding of the Partnership and intellectual property rights. The Terms of Reference foresees that IPEEC is open to intergovernmental organisations and that their membership is contingent upon the signature of the Terms of Reference.

A Memorandum concerning the hosting by the International Energy Agency of the Secretariat to the IPEEC (the "Memorandum") was signed by seven of the G8 members, China, South Korea, Brazil and Mexico on 24 May 2009 on the one hand and by the International Energy Agency ("the IEA") on 18 June 2009 on the other. The eighth G8 member, France, signed on 22 June 2009.

The Memorandum constitutes an international agreement between IPEEC members and the IEA and contains arrangements regarding the organisation of the Secretariat which is to be hosted by the IEA. It contains provisions regarding the staffing of the Secretariat and recruitment, as well as regarding the issues of funding and budgetary procedures.

It is appropriate for the European Community to sign the Terms of Reference and the Memorandum. It should be noted that the European Community should pay a contribution to IPEEC for its administrative expenses.

As a consequence, under this decision, the following are approved on behalf of the Community:

· the Terms of Reference for the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC), annexed to this Decision as Annex I;

· the Memorandum concerning the hosting by the International Energy Agency of the Secretariat to the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation, annexed to this Decision as Annex II.

Decision 2009/954
OJ L 330 16.12.2009, p. 0037

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted by 592 votes to 18, with 8 abstentions, a legislative resolution approving unamended, under the consultation procedure, the signing of the 'Terms of Reference for the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation' (IPEEC) and the 'Memorandum concerning the hosting by the International Energy Agency of the Secretariat to the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation' by the European Community.

T7-0096/2009

A7-0075/2009

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report drawn up by Herbert REUL (EPP, DE) approving unamended, under the consultation procedure, the proposal for a Council decision on the signing of the 'Terms of Reference for the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation' (IPEEC) and the 'Memorandum concerning the hosting by the International Energy Agency of the Secretariat to the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation' by the European Community.

A7-0075/2009

PE430.263

PURPOSE: to approve the 'Terms of Reference for the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation' (IPEEC) and the 'Memorandum concerning the hosting by the International Energy Agency of the Secretariat to the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation' by the European Community.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: at the initiative of the European Commission, in June 2008, members of the G8, China, India and South Korea and the Commission decided to establish an International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) which is to facilitate those actions that yield high energy efficiency gains. IPEEC will provide a forum for discussion, consultation and exchange of information. IPEEC is open to other countries and intergovernmental organisations.

The Terms of Reference for the IPEEC were signed by the G8 members, China, South Korea, Brazil and Mexico on 24 May in Rome. Due to its government being in transition, India did not sign. The Terms of Reference describe the cooperative activities of the IPEEC, establish its organisation, define the criteria for potential new members and contain general provisions regarding the funding of the Partnership and intellectual property rights. Membership in the IPEEC is contingent upon signature of the Terms of Reference. It is expedient for the Community to be represented in the Partnership as the Community will have significant contributions to make to the discussions, consultations and exchange of information for which the Partnership provides a platform. It is important that this is done in a coordinated way and some obligations provided for by the Terms of Reference affect or are likely to affect the arrangements laid down by Community acts adopted in the areas of environment and energy, and thus to affect Community competences. A code of conduct (annexed to the proposal) will apply so as to ensure the proper coordination of Community positions where necessary.

A Memorandum concerning the hosting by the International Energy Agency of the Secretariat to the IPEEC (the "Memorandum") was signed by seven of the G8 members, China, South Korea, Brazil and Mexico on 24 May 2009 on the one hand and by the International Energy Agency ("the IEA") on 18 June 2009 on the other. The eighth G8 member, France, signed on 22 June 2009.

The Memorandum constitutes an international agreement between IPEEC members and the IEA and contains arrangements regarding the organisation of the Secretariat which is to be hosted by the IEA. It contains provisions regarding the staffing of the Secretariat and recruitment, as well as regarding the issues of funding and budgetary procedures. To this international agreement the provisions of Article 300 of the EC Treaty apply. The Terms of Reference constitute an international agreement to which the provisions of Article 300 of the EC Treaty apply.

The Community wishes to become a member of IPEEC - for which the Commission is asking the Council's approval – and the Council should authorise the signature of the Memorandum on behalf of the Community.

The process of joining does not entail any negotiations as the Memorandum was already signed by 12 States and the IEA. The Community can therefore join the Memorandum on the basis of a Council decision designating the person empowered to sign the Memorandum on behalf of the Community.

This proposal provides for the signature of the Terms of Reference and the Memorandum.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the budget of the Partnership is to be financed by voluntary contributions of its members. The Community's contribution will be EUR 400 000 in 2009 , and EUR 60 000 in every subsequent year.

COM(2009)0438
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE: to approve the 'Terms of Reference for the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation' (IPEEC) and the 'Memorandum concerning the hosting by the International Energy Agency of the Secretariat to the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation' by the European Community.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: at the initiative of the European Commission, in June 2008, members of the G8, China, India and South Korea and the Commission decided to establish an International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) which is to facilitate those actions that yield high energy efficiency gains. IPEEC will provide a forum for discussion, consultation and exchange of information. IPEEC is open to other countries and intergovernmental organisations.

The Terms of Reference for the IPEEC were signed by the G8 members, China, South Korea, Brazil and Mexico on 24 May in Rome. Due to its government being in transition, India did not sign. The Terms of Reference describe the cooperative activities of the IPEEC, establish its organisation, define the criteria for potential new members and contain general provisions regarding the funding of the Partnership and intellectual property rights. Membership in the IPEEC is contingent upon signature of the Terms of Reference. It is expedient for the Community to be represented in the Partnership as the Community will have significant contributions to make to the discussions, consultations and exchange of information for which the Partnership provides a platform. It is important that this is done in a coordinated way and some obligations provided for by the Terms of Reference affect or are likely to affect the arrangements laid down by Community acts adopted in the areas of environment and energy, and thus to affect Community competences. A code of conduct (annexed to the proposal) will apply so as to ensure the proper coordination of Community positions where necessary.

A Memorandum concerning the hosting by the International Energy Agency of the Secretariat to the IPEEC (the "Memorandum") was signed by seven of the G8 members, China, South Korea, Brazil and Mexico on 24 May 2009 on the one hand and by the International Energy Agency ("the IEA") on 18 June 2009 on the other. The eighth G8 member, France, signed on 22 June 2009.

The Memorandum constitutes an international agreement between IPEEC members and the IEA and contains arrangements regarding the organisation of the Secretariat which is to be hosted by the IEA. It contains provisions regarding the staffing of the Secretariat and recruitment, as well as regarding the issues of funding and budgetary procedures. To this international agreement the provisions of Article 300 of the EC Treaty apply. The Terms of Reference constitute an international agreement to which the provisions of Article 300 of the EC Treaty apply.

The Community wishes to become a member of IPEEC - for which the Commission is asking the Council's approval – and the Council should authorise the signature of the Memorandum on behalf of the Community.

The process of joining does not entail any negotiations as the Memorandum was already signed by 12 States and the IEA. The Community can therefore join the Memorandum on the basis of a Council decision designating the person empowered to sign the Memorandum on behalf of the Community.

This proposal provides for the signature of the Terms of Reference and the Memorandum.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the budget of the Partnership is to be financed by voluntary contributions of its members. The Community's contribution will be EUR 400 000 in 2009 , and EUR 60 000 in every subsequent year.

COM(2009)0438
EUR-Lex