European Commissioner for Energy |
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Appointer | Jose Manuel Barroso[1] |
Term length | Five years |
Inaugural holder | Wilhelm Haferkamp |
Formation | 1958 |
Salary | €19,909.89 per month[2][3] |
Website | European Commission |
The Commissioner for Energy is a member of the European Commission. The current Commissioner is Günther Oettinger (EPP).
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The Commissioner holds responsibility for the European Union's energy policy as well as nuclear issues (Euratom). It was previously a backwater in the Commission but has now become sought-after as the European energy policy has been developed. The Commissioner for Energy has to deal with ongoing gas disputes between Russia and Ukraine which threaten European supplies, reduce dependence on Russian energy and reduce carbon emissions.[4]
The Directorate-General serving this Commissioner is the Directorate-General for Energy, which was combined with Transport prior to 2010.
Günther Oettinger was appointed as the new Energy Commissioner in February 2010. However he was criticised for corruption and avoidance of EU law in his home state.[5] His language skills have also been criticised[6] and his nomination was met with confusion in Brussels.[7]
During his hearing with the European Parliament, Piebalgs stressed the importance of the environment in energy policy and was cautious of nuclear power. He received backing strong backing from the Parliament. He outlined his priorities as;[8]
The European Union is an active supporter of the Kyoto Protocol, which it signed alongside its member-states. In March 2007 the Union committed itself to cut CO2 emissions by 20 percent by 2020.[9] There is also a desire to reduce dependency on Russian energy supplies following the disputes between Russia and Belarus and Ukraine. (See also: Russia-Belarus energy dispute, Russia-Ukraine gas dispute.) In April 2007 five southern European countries signed a deal to build an oil pipeline from the Black Sea to Italy which will help diversify energy sources.[10]
Piebalgs head of cabinet is Andris Ķesteris, his deputy head is Christopher Jones and his spokesperson is Ferran Tarradellas.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wilhelm Haferkamp | West Germany | 1967–1970 | Rey Commission |
2 | Wilhelm Haferkamp | West Germany | 1970–1972 | Malfatti Commission |
3 | Wilhelm Haferkamp | West Germany | 1972–1973 | Mansholt Commission |
4 | Henri François Simonet | Belgium | 1973–1977 | Ortoli Commission |
5 | Guido Brunner | West Germany | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission |
6 | Étienne Davignon | Belgium | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission |
7 | Nicolas Mosar | Luxembourg | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I |
8 | Antonio Cardoso e Cunha | Portugal | 1989–1993 | Delors Commission II |
9 | Marcelino Oreja | Spain | 1993–1994 | Delors Commission III |
10 | Abel Matutes | Spain | 1994–1995 | Delors Commission III |
11 | Christos Papoutsis | Greece | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission |
12 | Christos Papoutsis | Greece | 1999 | Marín Commission |
13 | Loyola de Palacio | Spain | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission |
14 | Andris Piebalgs | Latvia | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I |
15 | Günther Oettinger | Germany | 2010 onwards | Barroso Commission II |