I am writing to update you about the recent Energy Council in Luxembourg on 12 June. The UK was represented by Andy Lebrecht, the UK’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU.

As expected, the council discussed and agreed the Commission’s proposal for a revision of the council directive on oil stocking (council document 15910/08). The directive will align the EU to international energy agency regulations and increase the EU’s resilience to disruptions in oil supply.

This was followed by a report from the presidency on progress on the three energy efficiency directives currently being negotiated by the council and Parliament. These are related specifically to labelling (council document 15906/08), tyres (council document 15920/08) and buildings (council document 15929/08).

Finally, the Commission and presidency presented information on a number of developments in EU external energy relations, including those with Russia, Ukraine, the energy community treaty, OPEC and the G8.

Over lunch, Ministers had the first opportunity to discuss the potential location of the Agency for the Co-operation of Energy Regulators, which will be established by the third package of legislation on the EU’s internal energy market. Slovakia, Romania and Slovenia have all put themselves forwards as candidates. As all received roughly equal support from member states, further discussions will now take place.