Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will be in Brussels today for a special summit to decide the EU’s future energy policy which, crucially for Malta, includes a proposal that no member state should be isolated from the bloc’s energy grid.

The island is totally dependent on the electricity generated by its two power plants in Marsa and Delimara. It plans to install a submarine interconnector with Sicily that would enable it to import 200MW of electricity from the European continent and close down the 1950s-built Marsa power station. The project is expected to benefit from special funds from the EU.

The EU’s new energy policy is intended to assure an integrated energy market by 2020. Draft summit conclusions seen by The Times stress the fact that safe, secure, sustainable and affordable energy contribute to European competitiveness and are a priority for Europe.

The conclusions emphasise the EU’s commitment to ambitious energy and climate change goals through a fully functioning, integrated and interconnected market, energy efficiency and a low carbon strategy.

The one-day summit will also focus on innovation. The European Council is expected to call for the implementation of a strategic and integrated approach to boosting innovation and taking full advantage of Europe’s intellectual capital.

The 27 EU leaders are also expected to agree on a common response to events in Egypt and Tunisia.