Elektromobiilne Eesti

http://ee2020.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/miguel-sebastian-says-that-%E2%80%9Cthe-electric-vehicle-has-been-born-today-in-europe%E2%80%9D/


Miguel Sebastián says that “the electric vehicle has been born today in Europe”
veebruar 9, 2010 · Lisa kommentaar

The Spanish Minister of Industry after a work session with his counterparts at European level during the EU Informal Meeting on Competitiveness. EFE.

The Spanish Ministry of Industry, Miguel Sebastián, stated that “it is no exaggeration” to say that the electric vehicle “has been born today in Europe”, and that it has done so under the Spanish Presidency.

“It is a good day for European industry”, stressed the minister during his statement to the media following the first two working sessions of the European delegations on the electric vehicle, the single issue for discussion at the meeting of the ministers for competitiveness.

Sebastián pointed out that it is precisely at these difficult times when a commitment for the future is needed and he was convinced that the electric car is one such commitment since, in his own words, it “is a winning hand.”

He added “it is good for people’s pockets, good for European income and employment, good for Europe as a whole, and it will be good for the planet from an environmental perspective. ”

Miguel Sebastián cited Germany’s express support to take the Spanish Presidency’s proposal to adopt a European strategy regarding the electric vehicle to the next Council of Ministers in Brussels.

The Spanish minister quoted his French counterpart, Christian Estrosi, who said that the electric vehicle “is essential” and that all Europeans have to work on it together“in a coordinated way.”

The Spanish Presidency opened the two working sessions, prior to discussing the conclusions with the rest of the Members States. At both meetings the delegations talked with car manufacturers, energy companies and the ICT sector regarding the initiative and the need to adopt a common strategy.

To encourage the debate, the Spanish Presidency presented a working document that, in addition to providing a brief analysis, put forward several issues for discussion by the delegations.

* Video
* Video: Electric vehicles presentation

Interview
1. The electric vehicle is the focus of the informal meeting of ministers of industry.What is the line of action of the Spanish Presidency in this matter?

The electric car is an opportunity for European industry. Its introduction entails the development of new technologies, innovative activities, the generation of added value, the creation of quality employment, possibilities to increase exports, improving efficiency and energy savings, controlling CO2 emissions and reducing dependency on oil and oil derivatives.

From our point of view, EU institutions should lead the introduction of the electric vehicle and in this informal meeting of ministers we have presented a document for discussion to all Member States in which we describe the main implications and challenges that must be confronted for the large-scale implementation of the electric vehicle. We are asking EU countries to express their opinion with a view to creating an internal discussion that results in the creation of a common strategy by the European Commission, which is the institution which must carry out this task.
2. What will be the working dynamic of the informal meeting?

We have prepared three work sessions, two of them led by experts in the affected business sectors, to analyse the electric vehicle from all angles. First, we will look at the implications from the viewpoint of industry in a session where the speakers will be from the main sectors involved: energy, car manufacturers and technology.

This will be followed by a session for institutions, from the Spanish Parliament through to the European Commission, including Barcelona City Council, one of the Spanish cities that is developing a pilot scheme to introduce the electric vehicle (MOVELE Project).

Finally, the third general session is reserved for the ministers of all member countries to express their opinions and give their views on various aspects related to the electric vehicle. As this is an informal meeting, no document will be approved, but the Spanish Presidency has prepared a document to encourage discussion and suggest, if suitable, a series of conclusions to be sent to the Community executive.
3. How will the Spanish Presidency of the European Union promote a common electric vehicle strategy? What agreements does it hope to reach?

The Presidency wishes to give the electric vehicle a leading role. This informal meeting is the first example. It has only one subject, the electric vehicle, something which has never happened before. We believe that in an initial stage of development of this type of vehicle, the first thing that has to be done is to encourage discussion and present the challenges that Europe must face together to gain a competitive advantage in this sector.

We are confident that our perception will be shared by the rest of the Member States and EU institutions and we hope that the European Commission will take note and adopt a common strategy which can be discussed in the Council of Ministers in May.

via http://eu2010.es/en/documentosynoticias/entrevistas/feb08_entrevistasebastian.html