In from the cold: Russia will get warmer welcome from Oettinger

The imminent appointment of Germany's Gunther Oettinger as energy commissioner signals moves by Europe to strengthen energy links with Russia, although the importance given to energy efficiency will remain unchanged.

A shift in European Union energy policy should become apparent from 1 February when Germany's Gunther Oettinger becomes EU energy commissioner.

Replacing Latvia's Andris Piebalgs for the next five years, the appointment of a German to this increasingly powerful position has been widely touted as the precursor to an attempt to strengthen energy links with Russia. Germany has always been strong enough to regard Europe's biggest energy supplier as an equal and has encouraged infrastructure links, notably the Baltic Nord Stream pipeline, which can deliver Russian gas.

EU energy policy under Piebalgs sought to establish alternative energy supplies to Russia, such as the Nabucco pipeline, perhaps reflecting common Latvian fears about being too reliant on that country's goodwill.

Oettinger is currently a minister in Germany and president of the country's southwestern Baden-Wurttemberg region. In replies to a European Parliament questionnaire issued ahead of parliamentary hearings running 11-19 January, he stressed his preference for a wide range of new energy links, but was neutral about concerns over Russian influence.

Spreading the risk

"The Commission should co-­ordinate further projects of strategic importance," he said, naming the plan to boost Baltic energy interconnections, Nabucco, and new energy links in the Mediterranean and the North Sea. There was no undiplomatic support for the Nord Stream project, but it is clear, when it comes to energy infrastructure, Oettinger has wide-ranging tastes.

Indeed, the would-be energy commissioner signalled a classic inclusive German approach to energy policy in general, looking for linkages between the key priority areas of sustainability, competitiveness and security of supply.

He was ambitious, saying these goals should "be merged into a long-term policy up to the year 2050", with the overall goal of decarbonising the EU energy mix.

Looking at specifics, his number one priority echoed that of Piebalgs: energy efficiency. As regards renewables, he unsurprisingly gave robust backing to developing green power production. More interestingly, he reflected his German Christian Democrat roots by backing improvements to nuclear power management, a key issue for persuading EU citizens to like more nuclear energy. His ­questionnaire answers backed an active EU role developing common rules for nuclear waste management.

The policies of proposed environment commissioner Janez Potocnik will almost certainly dovetail with Oettinger's green energy credentials. The Slovene said in his answers: "My three priorities ... would be promoting a green economy, halting the loss of biodiversity and implementing and improving existing environmental legislation."

Should the Copenhagen climate change accord translate into a legally binding global warming treaty in 2010, Potocnik would be an experienced pair of hands. He has acquitted himself well in the current Commission, holding the research portfolio, and as a scientist by background he should master the detailed technical choices required in developing new EU ­environmental legislation. For instance, in his answers, he promised to "review the implementation of existing water legislation bearing in mind the need to adapt to climate change and will present my findings in 2012".

He can also be expected to promote green innovation. He told MEPs: "It will mean putting in place the right mix of smart regulation, incentives and market-based mechanisms to foster eco-innovation and sustainable consumption and production, finding ways to promote the changes needed which fully respect our levels of environmental ambition."

Climate change commissioner

Potocnik's work will be strengthened by a new post: a commissioner for climate action, where the nominee is Denmark's Connie Hedegaard. Her role will be to implement a Copenhagen-based agreement, and also the EU's existing climate change legislation, which has been under review. Her presence should free Potocnik to be more creative. In any case, it is clear that EU president Jose Manuel Barroso has nominated a green team.

As for utility commercial policy, despite the nomination of France's Michel Barnier as internal market commissioner (who can be expected to prop up Paris's ability to protect its national champion utilities such as EDF), utilities will still have to watch competition laws carefully. This is because Spanish socialist Joaquin Almunia has been nominated to the important competition post. In the current Commission, he has been a hawk on financial issues, as Brussels loosened its purse strings to fight the recession.

In his message to MEPs, Almunia stressed that he would continue his predecessor Neelie Kroes' tough line on competition law when it came to the energy industry. "Growth must be based on open and competitive markets. Enforcing the competition rules in key areas like energy, information technology and transport will support this," he said.

The utility commissioner nominees faced MEPs' questions this week: Oettinger (energy) on 14 January; Potocnik (environment) on 13 January; Almunia (competition) on 12 January; and Hedegaard (climate change) on 15 January, all in Brussels. The European Parliament can reject the proposed new team, and although this is unlikely, if MEPs are dissatisfied, political pressure could persuade a member state to change their nominee.

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