Council adopts multiannual programme to promote international cooperation in the energy sector. The Council of the European Union has announced a Decision (1999/23/EC) adopting a multiannual programme to promote international cooperation in the energy sector (1998-2002). According to the Decision, within the European Union's Energy Framework Programme, a specific progr... The Council of the European Union has announced a Decision (1999/23/EC) adopting a multiannual programme to promote international cooperation in the energy sector (1998-2002). According to the Decision, within the European Union's Energy Framework Programme, a specific programme for reinforcement of international cooperation in the energy field will be implemented from 1998 to 2002. This programme will be referred to as the 'Synergy programme'. The objectives of this programme are to provide assistance to third countries with the definition, formulation and implementation of energy policy, and to promote industrial cooperation between the Community and third countries in the energy sector. The main tasks of the Synergy programme are to help achieve the Community's energy objectives as set out in Article 1 of Decision 1999/21/EC, Euratom. These are competitiveness, security of supply, and protection of the environment. The financial reference for the Synergy programme will be ECU 15 million. Of this, ECU 6m will be for the period 1998 to 1999. The finances for the period between 2000 and 2002 will be reviewed if the amount ECU 9m is not consistent with the financial perspective for that period. Under this decision, the Community shall contribute towards financing activities concerning: - Energy policy advice and training; - Energy analyses and forecasting; - Energy dialogue and exchanges of information on energy policy, notably by means of organisation of conferences and seminars; - Support to regional transboundary coooperation; - Improvement of the Framework for industrial cooperation on energy. According to this Decision, no funding may be granted to research, development, or demonstration projects. An action programme based on the indicative programme shall be set out in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 4 of Decision 1999/21/EC, Euratom. This action programme shall include a list of the main projects to be financed. Participation and invitations to tender shall be open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons in the Member States and in the beneficiary States. This decision repeals and replaces Regulation (EC) No 701/97.
