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Cause and Effect in European Politics and Law

The European Parliament supported the Desertec initiative

Adelina Marini, September 20, 2009

The European parliament approved a resolution insisting the Commission to take further actions to avoid energy deliveries shortages and the mechanism for early warning (which proved to be ineffective during the energy crisis in the beginning of 2009 between Russia and Ukraine) should be reconsidered. Beside this, the MEPs asked for the establishment of a common foreign policy in the field of energy. In its resolution the Parliament also notes that its main priority during the new term would be to secure the energy independence of the EU.

For that purpose it would be important for the EU to connect with the new natural gas deposits in the Middle East and the Caspian region. In this regard, the MEPs congratulate in the document the government of Bulgaria as well as the governments of Austria, Hungary, Romania and Turkey for the signing on the 13th of July this year of an intergovernmental agreement, putting the legal framework for the "Nabucco" pipeline project. The resolution also welcomes the progress on the "Desertec" initiative which will use the large potential for generating solar energy in the Middle East and North Africa.