Joint Declaration for enhanced cooperation on energy between the European Union and the Government of India
Acknowledging that the EU and India share common objectives as regards enhancing energy security, promoting energy efficiency and energy safety, and the pursuit of sustainable development through, inter alia, the development of clean and renewable energy sources;
Recognizing that business operator’s play a significant role in the development of innovative clean and efficient energy technologies and that mutually beneficial activity can be further expanded;
Welcoming the EU-India Energy Panel decision, taken on the occasion of its 6th meeting held in New Delhi in November 2011, to extend the dialogue to include regular exchanges on energy security matters, to enhance security of supply and coordination of positions in international organizations and initiatives on energy and to continue deepening cooperation in the energy field, through a series of focused, result-oriented activities;
The European Union and the Government of India will work together to improve energy security, safety, sustainability, access and energy technologies and will focus their joint efforts in a number of key energy areas, on the basis of common interest and mutual benefit, inter alia:
Development and deployment strategies for clean energy production, inter alia clean coal technologies and advanced coal mining,
Improved energy efficiency of products,
Improved energy efficiency in the buildings sector,
Development of smart power grids, including the integration of renewable energy sources,
Cost-effective ways for the uptake of renewable energy sources as well as research and innovation cooperation on new, clean and renewable energy technologies,
Energy safety, in particular nuclear safety and off-shore drilling safety,
Advancing in developing fusion energy as future sustainable energy source. 6409/12 3
Joint activities, including technical meetings gathering energy experts designated by the European Commission and the Indian Government, vocational training, and participation in relevant events organized in the European Union and in India, will be set up on a regular basis throughout 2012 and onwards, with due involvement and support of both sides. Relevant institutional and government stakeholders on both sides, as well as relevant market actors, such as energy regulators, nuclear safety organizations, business representatives, research institutes and academia, transmission system operators and distribution system operators, will be invited to contribute to these activities, as appropriate. Business to business cooperation (with a specific focus on SMEs) shall be promoted to enhance cooperation in the energy sector through appropriate financial and technical institutions on both sides.
Support from EU funded programs and initiatives will be explored as well as from other India and EU schemes to promote mutual cooperation. Complementarities with relevant initiatives promoted in India by the EU Member States and International Financial Institutions and other international institutions and fora, as needed, will be sought, in the context of India’s priorities and policies, so as to ensure a comprehensive approach with maximum impact. Both sides will discuss the activities
to be undertaken under India-EU Joint Work Program on ‘Energy, Clean Development and Climate Change’ by various institutions supported under EU funded programs and initiatives and exchange information on a regular basis at the India-EU Joint Working Group on Environment, the India-EU Energy Panel and the India-EU Sub-Commission on Economic Cooperation, in order to maximize impact.
Progress in the implementation of these activities will be reported to the 2012 EU-India Energy Panel meeting.
