The Presidency has announced plans to reach a political agreement on 6 June on the electricity internal market proposals, published by the Commission back in September last year. Political agreement on the internal market proposal will be preceded by a debate by the Energy Ministers on the 28 February, and a vote by the European Parliament scheduled for 4 June. The timetable is certainly ambitious.

During this six month period the Council will make its response to the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan published by the Commission last year. The essence of the SET Plan is to promote the new technologies required for achieving a sustainable energy policy for Europe. On 28 February the Energy Council should therefore adopt ministerial conclusions providing the basis for the discussion to be held by the Heads of State and Government at the spring European Council.

The Slovenian government also plans to make substantial progress on the proposal on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, part of the Climate and Energy Package published by the Commission on 23 January. The Energy Ministers are scheduled to debate the proposals on 28 February and again on 6 June, with civil servants having regular discussions during the course of the Presidency.