Tag: energy liberalisation

Clear battle lines are emerging as EU member states debate whether to break up the distribution and generation arms of large integrated energy groups such as France's EDF and Germany's E.ON.

Speaking exclusively to EurActiv, Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs says that new energy and climate-change proposals should lead to higher prices for consumers. But paying 5% more now will avoid much steeper price hikes in the future, he argues.

As one of the world's largest importers of oil, gas and coal, the EU is a major player on the international energy market - However, it remains a dwarf on the political stage as member states keep the upper hand on foreign policy. With external dependence on imports forecast to grow steadily, the EU has started to integrate energy aspects into relations with third countries. EurActiv brings an overview of relations with key regions for supply and transit.

The Commission opened the debate on a future common European Energy Policy with the publication of a 'Green Paper' in March 2006. Suggestions include completing the opening of European gas and electricity markets and stepping up relations with major suppliers such as Russia and OPEC. Other key suggestions include boosting renewable energies, energy efficiency, and research on low-carbon technologies. However, EU member states have already made clear that they would not tolerate interference with national sovereignty, especially when it comes to taking sensitive political decisions such as opting for nuclear power.

France, Germany and Spain were among the 16 countries formally cautioned for dragging their feet on liberalising gas and electricity markets. In the Commission's firing line is France's cherished capped-price model.

The Commission’s 2006 Competitiveness Report says that member states must further liberalise energy markets, cut red tape and invest in innovation in order to boost growth and create jobs.

Environmentalists have pointed the finger at the Commission for telling Luxembourg that the guaranteed price it pays in support of renewable energies is creating market distortions.

On a visit to Berlin, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin defended the merger between Suez and GDF as being positive for European energy independence and proposed appointing a special EU-energy diplomat.

Artificially created national champions may have short-term appeal but are often to the long-term detriment of European consumers and competitiveness, the EU's competition commissioner has said.

After the takeover squabbles and fierce debates surrounding national sovereignty issues, the EU is now facing a number of key decisions that will reveal its true resolve in shaping a common energy policy.

In a policy paper of the Schuman Foundation, Joachim Bitterlich (Former adviser of German Chancellor Kohl) gives an overview of current European and international energy concerns, and supports the case for a common EU energy policy.

A new report by Ernst & Young identifies corporate requirements to carry out the large-scale infrastructure programmes needed to diversify Europe's energy mix and bring forward alternatives to gas.

Guillaume Durand (European Policy Centre) looks at the Commission's approach to controversial mergers in the gas and electricity sectors and draws conclusions for the EU’s emerging common energy policy.

National energy regulators have unveiled an initiative to create four regional markets as a first stepping stone towards a single EU gas market. 

The European Commission has taken legal action against 17 member states for dragging their feet in applying EU electricity and gas market liberalisation legislation into national law.

Well-functioning and transparent energy markets are the best way to diversify EU energy supplies, Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes told EurActiv on the eve of a Spring European Summit dominated by energy issues – and controversial mergers.

Recent government interventions into takeover bids in France and Spain make Austrian finance minister Karl-Heinz Grasser call for the Commission to act.

The Commission's ideas on a common EU energy policy include full market opening, external relations and renewable energies as key options. However, it shies away from stepping into national energy choices, such as nuclear.

National energy regulators have launched an initiative to create seven regional markets as a first step towards a single EU market for electricity. The Commission seems to favour a more integrated approach.

Antitrust investigations against incumbent energy companies will be launched in the coming weeks alongside infringement proceedings against three member states still at odds with gas and electricity liberalisation directives.

Just days after the Commission suggested ambitious EU energy savings plans, national governments scrapped every binding element of a related earlier proposal aimed at increasing energy savings on the retail side.

The Parliament has voted to triple funds allocated to gas and electricity transmission projects to cater for an expanding European energy market after enlargement. Neighbouring countries including Russia and Turkey are also part of the plans.

Responding to pressure from the Commission, the French government has agreed to end the unlimited state guarantee it granted to the former incumbent Electricité de France (EDF).