Climate package

In reaction to the visit of Mr. Fillon, Greens/EFA MEP Claude Turmes, who is the rapporteur on the renewables directive, wrote a letter to the MEPs of the Environment committee as well as to the leaders of the different political groups of the European Parliament:

"No bad deals with the French presidencyon the timing of the energy package!

Today, French Prime Minister Fillon himself is meeting top officials of the EP - Parliament President Poettering, Mr. Daul, President of the conservative EPP-group and Mr. Schulz, President of the socialist PSE group - to prepare the French Presidency.

Beside trying to protect the French energy market and defending the so called third option that would prevent the unbundling of energy infrastructures, the French Prime Minister tries to convince the EP leaders of agreeing on a French Presidency tailored timetable on the so called climate package.

The French want a 'Sarkozy show' on climate change. Therefore they push for a first reading agreement on the 4 issues of the climate package during the French Presidency. But such a deal would put the Council in the driving seat and would weaken the European Parliamentarians' possibilities to get fair negotiations.

I urge all MEPs actively engaged in the climate package not too agree to put the EP from the very beginning on in a disadvantaged negotiation position with the Council.

The EP does not start from scratch on the issues raised by the climate package. As already agreed in the ITRE committee for the renewables directive, EP should vote before summer or at latest in September on its reports. That would then allow a proper co-decision procedure - with an option for a second reading in the EP - and still guarantee that it will be finished before the end of the legislature.

On such important issues as the climate package and in the up run of European elections, the EP must show that it is a full partner of the EU institutional triangle.

Claude Turmes
MEP
Rapporteur on the renewables directive"