(Metering International, Issue 3, 2003, pp. 20–23).
The three main drivers of the European Union (EU) energy policy are climate change and sustainable development, security of supply, and competitiveness. As far as climate change is concerned, the EU has agreed under the Kyoto protocol to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 8% between 2008 and 2012, based on 1990 levels. As a result of the Kyoto agreement, GHG issues are playing a central role in EU energy and environmental policies. More recently a communication on the security of supply has indicated that there is an urgent need to reduce the continuously increasing dependence of the EU on imports of primary energy sources.
Kyoto protocol, Greenhouse gas, Environmental policies
