Brussels, March 8 /Rompres/ - Romania will undertake the goals proposed during the Spring European Council, specifically a 20 percent cutback of carbon emissions by 2020 and a 20 percent share of renewable energies, Prime-minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu stated on Thursday, at the end of the first working session of the European Council.

Romanian President Traian Basescu asserted in the plenary meeting Romania's stance in the energy issue, whereas Premier Tariceanu presented the country's position regarding the contents of the future Berlin Declaration that will mark 50 years since the signing of the Treaty of Rome, the document that laid the grounds of the EU.

Premier Tariceanu pointed out that the EU intends to become a world leader in the approach of energy issues, a sector tightly correlated with the global heating process.

In order to prevent the greenhouse effect, the EU targets by 2020 a 20 percent share of renewable energies of member states' energy needs. Another goal is the cutback of carbon emissions by 20 percent in average, also by 2020.

For similar goals to be attained at global scale - underscored the European leaders - the USA, China and India need to be involved in the process, as the last two are expected to account for the heaviest carbon emissions in the future.

Premier Tariceanu underscored that Romania commits to the two goals that will be set forth by the European Council and voiced confidence in the country's hydro-energy potential that will allow Romania to attain these goals. The head of the Executive also said that Romania must envisage a broader utilization of biofuels, that are already a priority for the government and that investments in the field already exist.

Calin Popescu-Tariceanu underscored that each country can freely choose its own type of renewable energy sources, and that although it does not enter this category, nuclear energy will not hinder the attaining of the respective goals.

Premier Tariceanu reiterated the idea that Romania pleads for unbundling facility owners and operators in the energy sector and that in Romania this separation is already a fact.

As for the declaration that is to mark 50 years since the signing of the Treaty of Rome, the Romanian Premier said that each country has particular sensitive points; thus, whilst some plead for maintaining the values of Christianity, others want the condemnation of communism.

Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said that many countries insisted to once again assert their secular character and did not back the mention of the values of Christianity in the document. On the other hand, said Premier Tariceanu, a reference to communism could be made especially in relation with the values that represent the EU fundamentals, highlighted in opposition to the past communist regimes.

Thus, the statement will promote the EU common values and principles, such as human rights, the freedom of expression and movement, solidarity and social cohesion.

The European leaders - said Tariceanu - pointed out that it is important for the declaration to be worded in simple phrases, easy to understand for all EU citizens. In the context, the European Constitution was mentioned as a counter-example, a document that was vetoed in two countries because the people could not grasp the complicated wording of the treaty.

[ Source : Romanian National News Agency ROMPRES ]