European Commission To Unveil Energy Policy

The European Commission is due today to unveil a wide-ranging vision of a common energy policy for the 27-country European Union.

The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, is expected to present plans aimed at getting EU member countries to further cut their production of greenhouse gases to fight global warming; use more renewable energy, including wind power and biofuels; and curb dependence on foreign suppliers of oil and gas.

Analysts say some EU states are likely to disagree on some expected proposals, such as those calling for more market competition among energy suppliers.

Proposals will need to be approved the EU member states before they can come into effect.

The proposals are being announced amid an oil-transit dispute between Russia and Belarus that has affected energy supplies to some EU member states.

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