L 7/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 13.1.1999 COUNCIL DECISION of 14 December 1998 adopting a multiannual programme of studies, analyses, forecasts and other related work in the energy sector (1998-2002) (1999/22/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (%), (1) Whereas the White Paper entitled ‘An energy policy for the European Union’ of 13 December 1995 proposed a new approach to the monitoring of energy trends based on cooperation with the Member States and which would give added bene- fits by establishing and encouraging the most effec- tive methods, promoting a shared approach to studies and analyses and encouraging the exchange of know-how in the field in question; (2) Whereas in its resolution of 8 July 1996 on the abovementioned White Paper(®), the Council believed  that energy  decision-making at Community level needed to be placed in the context of a shared analysis of the energy situation and of future trends and invited the Commission to organise cooperation between the Member States; (3) Whereas in its conclusions of 11 May 1998 on the Kyoto Protocol, the Council welcomed the Commission’s presentation on energy policy options for responding to the climate change chal- lenge and stressed the need to prepare a shared analysis of the economic impact of the greenhouse gas emission reductions; (4) Whereas, in its conclusions, the Cardiff European Council of 15-16 June 1998 invited the Energy Council to give effect to environmental integration and sustainable development within its policy area and invited the Council and the Commission to keep under review the organisational arrangements necessary to carry this forward; whereas it is there- () OJ C 261, 19. 8. 1998, p. 6. @) O] C 328, 26. 10. 1998. () O] C 224, 1. 8. 1996, p. 1. (10) fore necessary to develop appropriate indicators to monitor progress in this area; Whereas forward analyses and market monitoring at Community and Member State levels are essen- tial for the development of an adequate strategy for the medium and long term; whereas shared analyses with Member States and interested parties should be encouraged in this field; Whereas security of energy supplies is one of the key energy policy objectives; whereas in the context of growing external energy dependency of the European Community, it is necessary to monitor closely and analyse energy market trends both within the Community and at world level; Whereas, to ensure competitive energy prices, it is essential to monitor regularly at Community level the implementation process of the two key liberal- isation Directives which have recently been adopted for the electricity and gas markets; Whereas this monitoring process should be based on cooperation with Member State administrations and regulators, facilitating the exchange of best practices and ensuring greater transparency along the lines of the model initiated by the Commission for the internal electricity and gas markets; Whereas provision should therefore be made within the multiannual framework programme for actions in the energy sector (1998-2002) adopted by Decision 1999/21/EC, Euratom (*), for a specific programme of studies, analyses, forecasts and other related work in the energy sector; Whereas, in order to ensure that Community aid is used efficiently and duplication of work avoided, the Commission should ensure that projects are subject to thorough prior appraisal; whereas it should systematically monitor and evaluate the progress and results of supported projects; () See page 16 of this Official Journal.