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EU: Energy Council

House of Lords written statement – made at on 21 November 2006.

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Photo of Lord Truscott Lord Truscott Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Trade and Industry) (Energy)

At the forthcoming Energy Council in Brussels during the morning of 23 November, Lord Truscott will represent the UK.

Informal discussions at the pre-council dinner on 22 November will address the Commission's planned EU strategic energy review which is scheduled to issue early in 2007. It constitutes a stock-taking and action plan on all aspects of the EU's energy policy.

The substantive item on the main council agenda of 23 November will be a debate on promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy as part of the energy policy for Europe. The UK hopes that Ministers will agree robust council conclusions on the Commission's Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which was released on 18 October 2006.

The remaining agenda items will cover:

International relations in the field of energy: the presidency and Commission will provide information on EU/Russia, the Energy Community Treaty, the Energy Charter Treaty and on other co-operation with third countries;Energy Star: the presidency/Commission will provide a progress report on this agreement between the EU and US, which aims to promote energy efficient office equipment by means of a labelling scheme;Review of the Community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection: Commission Services will provide information on the state of play of this review, andElectricity blackouts of 4 November 2006: information from the Commission.

House of Lords

The house of Lords is the upper chamber of the Houses of Parliament. It is filled with Lords (I.E. Lords, Dukes, Baron/esses, Earls, Marquis/esses, Viscounts, Count/esses, etc.) The Lords consider proposals from the EU or from the commons. They can then reject a bill, accept it, or make amendments. If a bill is rejected, the commons can send it back to the lords for re-discussion. The Lords cannot stop a bill for longer than one parliamentary session. If a bill is accepted, it is forwarded to the Queen, who will then sign it and make it law. If a bill is amended, the amended bill is sent back to the House of Commons for discussion.

The Lords are not elected; they are appointed. Lords can take a "whip", that is to say, they can choose a party to represent. Currently, most Peers are Conservative.