The European Parliament’s largest grouping is divided on how to better co-ordinate energy policy.

The European People’s Party’s effort to push EU institutions to co-operate more closely on energy diplomacy is creating friction between Members of European Parliament (MEP) from western and central and eastern Europe.

They are divided on how to reduce dependency on Russian gas.

It is holding a meeting tomorrow in Katowice, Poland to discuss a draft policy paper has been made up which contains three options on energy security.

The first calls for the creation of a new office within the European External Action Service to better co-ordinate the work of the EU’s foreign policy chief and relevant commissioners.

The second option say the Commission should set up “a permanent cluster” to better integrate policy, while the third one calls for “regular co-ordination” between Federica Mogherini – the EU’s foreign policy chief – and the commissioners.

MEPs from central and eastern european countries, where gas dependency on Russia is higher, support the text calling for the creation of the special office.

However, members from western and northern Europe are wary of spawning more red tape.

Officials close to MEPs from both central and western Europe have confirmed there are disagreements on this issue.

Story originally reported in Politico.