UK needs help from EU to export energy

Published on 02/03/2013 00:00

THE UK needs the European Union to export its lucrative energy resources efficiently, according to Europe’s energy commissioner.

It must move beyond its debate about “EU budget cuts and lost sovereignty” and focus on the benefits of the union for the UK’s energy market, said Gunther Oettinger, the German politician who leads the energy portfolio at the EU’s governing body.

The UK, and Scotland in particular, has energy resources “few countries elsewhere can even dream of”, but they cannot deal with modern energy challenges on their own, according to Mr Oettinger.

He made the comments in a speech at a Scottish Energy Institute dinner in Aberdeen.

His warning over a focus on “lost sovereignty” comes amid growing support for Eurosceptic party Ukip.