The European Parliament,

A. whereas, despite the size and diversity of the energy resources and the technological know-how available in Europe, each state nevertheless remains dependent in terms of energy and particularly vulnerable at times of major political and economic crisis,

B. having regard to the memorandum submitted by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr Lubbers, on realizing the existing energy potential in the European Community, in the USSR and in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe,

C. having regard also to the important energy resources which exist in certain North African countries and the need to extend economic cooperation with these states,

D. having regard to the Commission communication on a European Energy Charter (COM(91) 36),

E. having regard to the Council's intention to hold an international conference with a view to drafting a European energy charter in July 1991,

F. having regard to the urgent need for the Community to ensure the long-term security of its energy supplies in genuinely stable conditions in order to promote its economic competitiveness and the well-being of its citizens,

G. having regard to the problem now raised by the supply, exploitation and use of energy sources in the USSR and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in terms of economic cost, energy efficiency and safety,

H. having regard to the inevitable connection between energy and the environment and the mutual responsibility which this implies at European level,

I. having regard to the specific importance of research, development and demonstration projects in the energy sector,

1. Reaffirms the need for the European Community to formulate a genuine common energy policy which would, in particular, guarantee security of supply, partly through the implementation of an active external policy in this area, in addition to making full use of the Community's internal resources;

2. Wholly supports the initiative to establish a European Energy Charter based on the pooling of resources and know-how throughout Europe and welcomes the conference shortly to be held on this subject;

3. Draws attention to the fact that the preparation of the European Energy Charter should take into account the diversity of energy strategies found in the different Member States;

4. Asks to be represented at the negotiations on the Charter and its Additional Protocols and to be consulted before the latter are signed;

5. Stresses the need to involve the social partners of the Twelve Member States and of the states of Central and Eastern Europe in these negotiations;

6. Believes that the Commission must play a major role in the implementation and management of the European Energy Charter, which must be considered as an integral part of an effective common energy policy;

7. Calls for the Charter and the Additional Protocols to be signed by the European Community on behalf of the Twelve Member States;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and Council.