U.S., EU to create transatlantic energy council

WASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The United States and European Union plan to create a new transatlantic energy council to discuss steps the two sides can take to boost energy security and create new green technology jobs, a European Union official said on Monday.

President Barack Obama and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso are expected to announce the new forum when they meet on Nov. 3, the EU official, speaking on condition that he not be identified.

"Before we've had a dialogue between the U.S. and the EU on energy issues, which is called the Strategic Energy Review. This is now being elevated to more of a high-level discussion," the EU official said.

The new initiative comes as more than 190 countries are negotiating a new pact to fight climate change, with the goal of reaching agreement at a Dec. 7-18 conference in Copenhagen.

European Commission officials have criticized the U.S. Senate for not working hard enough to pass climate change legislation ahead of that meeting. However, prospects for some Senate action this year appear to be improving.

The first meeting of the new U.S.-EU energy council will take place at the U.S. State Department the day after the Obama-Barroso summit, the EU official said.

It will be chaired on the U.S. side by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Energy Secretary Stephen Chu.

EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Fererro-Waldner and Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs will represent the EU along with other officials.

An afternoon session at the State Department will focus on foreign policy concerns faced by both the EU and the United States, the EU official said.

(Reporting by Doug Palmer; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)