EU plans to seize Britain's energy resources

[Almanac]

The EU plans to seize Britain's energy resources:

"BRITAIN’S vital North Sea oil and gas supplies are to be taken over by Europe under emergency plans revealed for the first time in Brussels yesterday.


EU leaders are demanding control of British energy reserves to prevent power blackouts that have left millions of eastern Europeans without heat in Arctic weather due to the Russian gas blockade...


The transfer of ownership would be enacted under secret powers written into the controversial Lisbon Treaty. It gives Europe the legal power to take over individual states’ supplies to “ensure security of energy supply in the Union”."


Daily Express | UK News :: EU will grab Britain's gas

Naturally one wants to help stricken nations but misappropriating individual nations' natural resources is hardly the right way to go about it. Especially by means of provisions in a treaty that has not been ratified.

[revereie]

and you actually believe this .. .. .. ... ?

[seabhcan]

The EU plans to seize Britain's energy resources:

"BRITAIN’S vital North Sea oil and gas supplies are to be taken over by Europe under emergency plans revealed for the first time in Brussels yesterday.


EU leaders are demanding control of British energy reserves to prevent power blackouts that have left millions of eastern Europeans without heat in Arctic weather due to the Russian gas blockade...


The transfer of ownership would be enacted under secret powers written into the controversial Lisbon Treaty. It gives Europe the legal power to take over individual states’ supplies to “ensure security of energy supply in the Union”."


Daily Express | UK News :: EU will grab Britain's gas

Naturally one wants to help stricken nations but misappropriating individual nations' natural resources is hardly the right way to go about it. Especially through provisions in a treaty that has not been ratified.

"Secret powers written into" Lisbon? If they are written there they can't be secret. If they are not written then they are not part of Lisbon.

Daily mail does the impossible - sinks to a new low.

[Defeated]

there are no individual nations. We are all European ... apart from the Americans who were European and then thought better of it.

I would love to believe that article

[droghedasouth]

"Secret powers written into" Lisbon? If they are written there they can't be secret. If they are not written then they are not part of Lisbon.

Daily mail does the impossible - sinks to a new low.

Actually it was the Daily Express which sank to a new low.

[zeleneye]

A yes, the Daily Express, that reliable and impartial media outlet.

I think you will find the truth is that the UK liberalisation of their energy market enabled large European utilities (like EDF and EON) major footholds in the British market.

Therefore, they actually own these 'British resources', so under the spirit of the free market, so championed by the right in the UK, they can do whatever they want with their gas and electricity.

Don't let the facts spoil a good article though.

[seabhcan]

A yes, the Daily Express, that reliable and impartial media outlet.

I think you will find the truth is that the UK liberalisation of their energy market enabled large European utilities (like EDF and EON) major footholds in the British market.

Therefore, they actually own these 'British resources', so under the spirit of the free market, so championed by the right in the UK, they can do whatever they want with their gas and electricity.

Don't let the facts spoil a good article though.

The actual plan, stripped of its UKIP slant, is that some MEPs have said that the EU should buy some British and Dutch gas and create a strategic reserve as the Americans have done for oil.

At the moment, to my knowledge, several individual countries have strategic researves.

[zeleneye]

The actual plan, stripped of its UKIP slant, is that some MEPs have said that the EU should buy some British and Dutch gas and create a strategic reserve as the Americans have done for oil.

At the moment, to my knowledge, several individual countries have strategic researves.

Since the last dispute in 2006, a majority of member states have built up reserves. Under the current legislation (the security of supply directive) there are very limited provisions for coordinated EU action however. The gas coordination group (set up under that directive) is meeting as we speak.

It may try and agree a fall back plan to help member states facing real shortages (even if Russian were to turn back on the gas today, a number of MS would be without normal supply for up to 6 days - e.g. Bulgaria).

Given people are freezing to death due to the cold snap, you could say that the EU has a role in preventing this.

There is talk about revising the legialtion under the 2nd Strategic Energy Review but let's not let the facts get in the way of this thread Seabhcan

[Almanac]

It's not just UKIP my friends.

From the Express:

'Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “EU Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso is right to say that the EU needs to help eastern Europe with its energy security. But giving the EU control over our national energy reserves is totally the wrong way to go about it.

“This is a regretful example of how the renamed EU constitution would give the EU too much power over our national affairs and why so important a treaty should be put to the British people to decide in a referendum.

“What we really need is a proper free market in energy in the EU. The EU already has the power it needs to achieve that.”

Syed Kamall, Conservative MEP for London, said: “Conservatives will continue to resist any moves towards EU common energy resources. The Common Fisheries Policy has already decimated our fishing industry. An EU common energy resource policy would do the same to what little is left of our oil reserves.”'

[BodyofEvidence]

almanac - were more worried about the economic crisis here - leave your drooling euroskeptic pals outside the door please, theyre embarrasing you