BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

09/01/2007

Merkel stresses importance of energy for EU

LONDON (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed the importance of energy security for EU member states in an interview with the Times on Tuesday, after Russia shut off oil exports to Belarus, halting supplies to Germany and Poland.

She also pressed the need to make progress with the European Union's constitution, saying this was one of the goals of Germany's six-month presidency of the 27-state bloc.

"For us, energy is what coal and steel used to be," Merkel said, talking of the driving forces behind the European common market, arguing for the need for common policies, according to the newspaper.

"We have, for example, to make sure that the Baltic pipeline does not work against Poland," Merkel said.

She was referring to a new pipeline that will bring Russian gas directly to Germany, bypassing Poland.

Merkel's comments came as Russia cut off crude exports to Belarus, halting supplies to Germany and Poland. In an interview on German television on Monday, Merkel said Germany needed protection against problems in delivering its energy supplies.

Turning to other topics, Merkel told the Times why Europe needed a constitution now more than ever.

"A Europe of 27 countries works differently from one of 15," she said, speaking to the newspaper in Berlin.

"The constitution treaty is about questions like whether we have a common foreign secretary or whether we want to decide on domestic policy and legal policy together. Those countries who want further expansion must understand that it is in their interest to have decision-making processes that are workable."

Merkel continued: "The task of the German presidency, I believe, is to develop a road map so that the whole issue can be taken to a reasonable situation before the European (parliamentary) elections in 2009."

The German leader, who last week visited Washington, said President George W. Bush accepted the need for a revival of the Middle East quartet, comprising the EU, U.S., Russia and the United Nations. "We have agreed that this should have a role again," she said. "First, however, people on the ground have to want peace themselves."

Merkel, who also holds the presidency of the Group of Eight nations this year, said in an interview with the Financial Times last week the European Union and the United States should more closely harmonise their financial market regulations, patent laws and other economic mechanisms.

Source:

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=42952007

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