BRUSSELS, July 11 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Tuesday called on leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) to agree on energy security principles to lay the foundation for a stable energy future.

    "There are two key messages I will take to the G8 table in St. Petersburg," Barroso told a press conference.

    "On energy, we need to create the right climate for both investment and supplies to flow freely. The G8 must agree on a set of principles which will lay the foundation for a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy system."

    Energy security, one of the three major topics at the G8 summit, is also an issue of great concern for the European Union (EU).

    Gas and oil prices have nearly doubled in Europe in the last two years. The EU's import dependency is forecast to rise to 70 percent by 2030.

    The G8 leaders are challenged to agree on a common set of energy security principles, covering all actors in the energy chain from producing to consuming and transit countries.

    In the view of the EU, the principles should lead to a market-based system with a fundamental commitment to open, transparent, competitive energy markets; diversification of supply and demand of energy source, of country of origin, of transportation and means of transport; energy efficiency; control over climate change.

    Barroso also called for action to help Africa with development.

    "Our second priority is to keep Africa center stage (at the summit). With the commitments made at Gleneagles (G8 summit), there is real hope that African poverty could be ended.

    "But all G8 partners must step up delivery to make a lasting difference. And we need to move further and faster."

    A commission official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the EU struggled to put Africa on the agenda of the St. Petersburg summit.

    In a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Barroso announced that the EU is proposing to set up a 3-billion-euro (3.8-billion-U.S. dollar) fund to promote good governance in Africa.

    The proposal builds on an EU pledge in Gleneagles to double aid to Africa by 2010.

    The G8 summit brings together leaders of the world's leading industrialized nations -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States. Barroso himself will participate in the summit.

    The St. Petersburg summit has made energy security, infectious diseases and education the three key issues. Enditem