On March 26 during an extra Parliamentary plenary in Brussels Commission President Barroso and Slovenian PM Janez Janša, representing the EU Presidency, spoke about EU time commitments regarding the adoption of the new energy and climate change package. According to Mr. Janša, EU Heads of State and Government pledged to reach agreement by the end of 2008, thus enabling the timely adoption of the package, which should take place before the end of the current term of office of the European Parliament. He urged MEPs to ensure the package’s successful adoption. Commission President Barroso also made reference to the  key deadlines set by the European Council in the area of climate change and renewables and in the area of energy and the internal market. He spoke of the EU's readiness to consider alternatives.

Most groups and individual MEPs welcomed proposals, though some expressed concerns about the content of package and the wish of some member states to “cut corners”. The president of EPP-ED group, Mr. Daul, urged the EU not to lose sight of the need economic competitiveness when addressing the problem of climate change. Mr Schulz, the head of the PES group, also underlined the need to strike balance between climate change and industry politics. Mrs. Valean, speaking on behalf of ALDE, urged action over rhetoric and encouraged more emphasis on energy efficiency in the proposed package. According to the Greens, the package was not ambitious enough, while for others welcomed the ambitiousness of the climate package goals.

For more information please see the EP press release.

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