The European energy statistics system

This article presents a short account of the actions Eurostat has undertaken over the last five years to ensure that the Energy statistics system will remain a modern system, fully responsive to the Commission policy requirements. The principles for a common European Union (EU) energy policy were elaborated in the European Commission Green paper "A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy" in 2006. A series of legislative measures were subsequently adopted by the European Council and the European Parliament to promote this Strategy, these measures comprising often mandatory quantitative targets. The Energy statistics system was strengthened during this process. While it served the Commission policy services in defining quantitative targets and providing the starting values, it has continued to evolve thus ensuring that Commission policies will also be supported by official statistics in the future. See full Press Release.