| OCR Text |
Show 3 D. The International Dimension of Energy inside and outside the European Union. Energy plays an important role in socio-economic development. The standard of living of European citizens, particularly in the less favoured regions, can be improved by the utilisation of efficient energy technologies. Improvements in public transport systems, private cars, heating and lighting systems can be achieved through more efficient energy use or through new means. Although energy should always be realistically priced, efficient technologies can make energy available at more reasonable price levels to the less favoured regions and thus ensure that they are not excluded from access to these vital services. Energy technology has a significant impact on the development of society and it is expected to be an important instrument for strengthening economic and social cohesion in the European Union. It should be noted that energy and environment are at the source of conflicting interests between the developed and the developing world. The system is such, that relationships are established between those who have energy and those who are lacking, between those that poll ute and those who succumb to the poll ution, etc. Analyses suggest that industrial countries' overall emissions in the past are largely responsible for the current stock of retained emissions. However, increasing population and faster economic growth in the developing world and a relatively limited capacity to improve energy efficiency are likely, in the absence of major technological breakthrough, to be the main factors responsible for them to contribute for a considerable share to overall future emissions. Helping developing countries to gain access to adequate and clean supplies of energy, would be greatly facilitated by the promotion of European energy technologies. Furthermore, the neighbouring countries of the EU are either significant energy suppliers (Russia, Poland, Norway, Algeria, etc.) or they have great potential for the utilisation of efficient technologies for energy consumption, transformation and production. The prospect of a number of Central and Northern European countries joining the European Union, and of association agreement with others (Mediterranean countries), increases the necessity for considering our neighbouring countries as partners in the new European Union programme. |
