Next event: Results of vote in Parliament 2013/09/10 more...
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading 2013/09/10
- End of procedure in Parliament 2013/09/10
- Debate in Parliament 2013/09/09
- Contribution 2013/07/16
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading 2013/07/16
- Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading 2013/06/20
- Debate in Council 2013/06/06
- Council Meeting 2013/06/06
- Committee opinion 2013/05/30
- Contribution 2013/05/17
- Amendments tabled in committee 2013/05/08
- Amendments tabled in committee 2013/05/08
Progress: Procedure completed
Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
---|---|---|---|
Lead | ITRE | BUZEK Jerzy ( PPE) | MERKIES Judith A. ( S&D), ROHDE Jens ( ALDE), TURMES Claude ( Verts/ALE), SZYMAŃSKI Konrad ( ECR), ZUBER Inês Cristina ( GUE/NGL), TZAVELA Niki ( EFD) |
Committee Opinion | ENVI | ||
Committee Opinion | REGI | ||
Committee Opinion | INTA | ||
Committee Opinion | AFET | ||
Committee Opinion | IMCO | CORREIA DE CAMPOS António Fernando ( S&D) | |
Committee Opinion | ECON |
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 52
Legal Basis:
RoP 52Subjects
- 2.60 Competition
- 3.40.14 Industrial competitiveness
- 3.60.03 Gas, electricity, natural gas, biogas
- 3.60.05 Alternative and renewable energies
- 3.60.06 Trans-European energy networks
- 3.60.08 Energy efficiency
- 3.60.10 Security of energy supply
- 3.60.15 Cooperation and agreements for energy
- 3.70.03 Climate policy, climate change, ozone layer
- 4.60.06 Consumers' economic and legal interests
- 5.05 Economic growth
- 6.20 Common commercial policy in general
Events
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on making the internal energy market work in response to the Commission communication on the same subject.
Parliament recalls that Member States have committed themselves to clear deadlines for the completion of the internal energy market by 2014 and for doing away with the EU’s ‘energy islands’ by 2015. It considers that a completed internal energy market is indispensable for the Union’s overall energy security and sustainability, and is of essential value for the Union’s global competitiveness, economic growth and the creation of new jobs in the EU .
Acknowledging that the trend of rising energy prices is likely to continue, the resolution stresses that the development of indigenous resources will lead to the emergence of new trading hubs in the EU and new spot markets for gas and electricity, thus presenting a real opportunity for the EU and the Member States to determine their own energy prices, including at a regional and local level.
Parliament recalls its support for the creation of a European Energy Community between the Member States, and asks the Commission and the European Council to report on the progress towards its creation.
Consumer-oriented market : Members support a user-friendly and transparent internal energy market . Consumers must be duly protected, and accurately informed with easy access to information, so that they are able to exercise their rights fully, while encouraged to play a more active role in stimulating market competition, moving from passive service recipients to active informed consumers and prosumers.
In addition, the report emphasises the importance of ensuring a competitive, easily managed and transparent energy market that offers real choice and competing prices to consumers as well as provides all present and future EU energy consumers with safe, sustainable, affordable and reliable ways of generating energy .
Members draw attention to the advantage of applying variable network-use charges and believe that smart technologies must deliver accurate, understandable and user-friendly information to consumers, and must empower them to manage their energy consumption and production. Mechanisms should be put in place to protect vulnerable consumers .
Current challenges : Parliament believes that the lack of full implementation of internal energy market legislation remains one of the main obstacles for the completion of this market.
Moreover, it stresses that modernising the existing energy infrastructure , and building new, intelligent and flexible generation, transmission, distribution and storage infrastructures is essential for a stable, well-integrated and well-connected energy market. It believes that investment in infrastructure needs to be encouraged through a stable, innovation-friendly and predictable regulatory framework that does not impede the functioning of the internal market.
Members call for studies exploring the possibility of establishing a European fund for investment in energy networks , financed by a compulsory European levy on energy consumption on the territory of the European Union, that could provide such public funding.
The report stresses that, without prejudice either to the Member States' right to choose their energy mix or to the need for increased EU-wide coordination.
Lastly, it insists on the need to tackle the anticipated growth of gas and electricity imports from third countries to the EU in the short- and medium-term, with view of ensuring security of energy supply , burden-sharing and a fair functioning of the internal market.
Urgent actions are needed : with a view to creating a well-integrated, open and well-regulated, and competitive internal energy market, Members call on the Member States to transpose and implement fully all relevant EU legislation , in particular the third energy package, as a matter of urgency. The Commission is urged to take action against those Member States in which implementation has been unduly delayed.
The Commission and the Member States are called upon to:
revise the indicators used to measure the degree of competition in energy markets, and to include indicators such as the proportion of consumers on the cheapest tariffs, the ability of new companies to enter the market, and the levels of customer service and innovation, all of which will help provide a real picture of the level of competition on the market; coordinate infrastructure projects and plan network development jointly, thereby ensuring full, EU-wide system connectivity and cost-effectiveness; conduct a fresh review of existing plans for energy projects, especially for the construction of new liquefied natural gas terminals scheduled to take more than ten years to complete; put in place an efficient congestion management system in order to foster the efficient use of existing gas and electricity transmission capacity, reducing the cost of expanding network capabilities, and facilitate the increased connection of renewable generation sources to the electricity network; refrain, as soon as possible, from using price caps or regulated energy retail prices set, at national level, below the cost incurred; review state aid rules in relation to national energy efficiency measures and to energy projects co-financed under the cohesion policy, in order to ensure that more of these actions are eligible for state funding, leading to more completed projects; with regard to the internal electricity market , urgently to provide a thorough analysis of the system adequacy and flexibility of national generation capacities in the short and long term; with regard to the internal gas market , review all gas contracts based on obsolete pricing mechanisms – in particular the oil indexation principle – that impose high prices on the consumers; provide incentives , and to support regional initiatives and partnerships, aiming at closer market integration, increase political and financial support to the Energy Community and to take further measures to support the extension of internal market rules to South-East and Eastern Europe.
The resolution draws attention to the external dimension of the energy market. It calls on the Commission to use its foreign policy instruments to promote the rules and standards of the internal energy market in relation to third countries.
In this context, the future EU-US Free Trade Agreement should include a chapter focused on such energy matters as could affect the internal market.
Future energy and climate challenges : Parliament calls on the Member States, the Commission and the relevant stakeholders to convert the necessary supporting schemes for all power generators into transparent, predictable, convergent and market-driven mechanisms , as soon as it is feasible, in order to create a common market for requested support features – such as energy efficiency, prosumers, cogeneration, flexibility, renewables, and grid support services – in a way that ensures their compatibility.
Lastly, the Commission is asked to continue to use regional development, cohesion and other EU structural funds to support the creation of smart gas and power grids in the next period.
The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the own-initiative report by Jerzy BUZEK (EPP, PL) on making the internal energy market work in response to the Commission communication on the same subject.
Members recall that Member States have committed themselves to clear deadlines for the completion of the internal energy market by 2014 and for doing away with the EU’s ‘energy islands’ by 2015. They consider that a completed internal energy market is indispensable for the Union’s overall energy security and sustainability, and is of essential value for the Union’s global competitiveness, economic growth and the creation of new jobs in the EU . Moreover, a single energy market will empower the Union to speak with one voice vis-à-vis external partners.
The report broadly welcomes the Commission’s Communication and the accompanying Action Plan. It recognises the European added value of better energy policy coordination and cooperation among the Member States, in a spirit of solidarity. It recalls its support for the creation of a European Energy Community between the Member States, and asks the Commission and the European Council to report on the progress towards its creation.
Consumer-oriented market : Members support a user-friendly and transparent internal energy market . Consumers must be duly protected, and accurately informed with easy access to information, so that they are able to exercise their rights fully, while encouraged to play a more active role in stimulating market competition, moving from passive service recipients to active informed consumers and prosumers.
In addition, the report emphasises the importance of ensuring a competitive, easily managed and transparent energy market that offers real choice and competing prices to consumers as well as provides all present and future EU energy consumers with safe, sustainable, affordable and reliable ways of generating energy .
Members draw attention to the advantage of applying variable network-use charges and believe that smart technologies must deliver accurate, understandable and user-friendly information to consumers, and must empower them to manage their energy consumption and production. Mechanisms should be put in place to protect vulnerable consumers .
Current challenges : Members believe that the lack of full implementation of internal energy market legislation remains one of the main obstacles for the completion of this market.
Moreover, they stress that modernising the existing energy infrastructure , and building new, intelligent and flexible generation, transmission, distribution and storage infrastructures is essential for a stable, well-integrated and well-connected energy market. They believe that investment in infrastructure needs to be encouraged through a stable, innovation-friendly and predictable regulatory framework that does not impede the functioning of the internal market.
Members call for studies exploring the possibility of establishing a European fund for investment in energy networks , financed by a compulsory European levy on energy consumption on the territory of the European Union, that could provide such public funding.
The report stresses that, without prejudice either to the Member States' right to choose their energy mix or to the need for increased EU-wide coordination, the EU as a whole must make full use of the potential of all sustainable energy sources that are at the disposal of the Member States.
Lastly, it insists on the need to tackle the anticipated growth of gas and electricity imports from third countries to the EU in the short- and medium-term, with view of ensuring security of energy supply , burden-sharing and a fair functioning of the internal market.
Urgent actions are needed : with a view to creating a well-integrated, open and well-regulated, and competitive internal energy market, Members call on the Member States to transpose and implement fully all relevant EU legislation , in particular the third energy package, as a matter of urgency. The Commission is urged to take action against those Member States in which implementation has been unduly delayed.
The Commission and the Member States are called upon to:
revise the indicators used to measure the degree of competition in energy markets, and to include indicators such as the proportion of consumers on the cheapest tariffs, the ability of new companies to enter the market, and the levels of customer service and innovation, all of which will help provide a real picture of the level of competition on the market; coordinate infrastructure projects and plan network development jointly, thereby ensuring full, EU-wide system connectivity and cost-effectiveness; conduct a fresh review of existing plans for energy projects, especially for the construction of new liquefied natural gas terminals scheduled to take more than ten years to complete; put in place an efficient congestion management system in order to foster the efficient use of existing gas and electricity transmission capacity, reducing the cost of expanding network capabilities, and facilitate the increased connection of renewable generation sources to the electricity network; refrain, as soon as possible, from using price caps or regulated energy retail prices set, at national level, below the cost incurred; review state aid rules in relation to national energy efficiency measures and to energy projects co-financed under the cohesion policy, in order to ensure that more of these actions are eligible for state funding, leading to more completed projects; with regard to the internal electricity market , urgently to provide a thorough analysis of the system adequacy and flexibility of national generation capacities in the short and long term; with regard to the internal gas market , review all gas contracts based on obsolete pricing mechanisms – in particular the oil indexation principle – that impose high prices on the consumers; provide incentives , and to support regional initiatives and partnerships, aiming at closer market integration, increase political and financial support to the Energy Community and to take further measures to support the extension of internal market rules to South-East and Eastern Europe;
The report draws attention to the external dimension of the energy market, the aim of which is to make it easier for all Member States to gain access to diversified energy sources. It calls on the Commission, in coordination with the European External Action Service, to use its foreign policy instruments to promote the rules and standards of the internal energy market in relation to third countries.
Future energy and climate challenges : the report calls on the Member States, the Commission and the relevant stakeholders to convert the necessary supporting schemes for all power generators into transparent, predictable, convergent and market-driven mechanisms , as soon as it is feasible, in order to create a common market for requested support features – such as energy efficiency, prosumers, cogeneration, flexibility, renewables, and grid support services – in a way that ensures their compatibility.
Lastly, the Commission is asked to continue to use regional development, cohesion and other EU structural funds to support the creation of smart gas and power grids in the next period.
PURPOSE: to set out an Action Plan on making the internal energy market work.
CONTENT: this communication recalls the benefits of integrated European energy markets and sets out ways to ensure that the market fulfils its potential as soon as possible and satisfies the needs and expectations of the EU's citizens and businesses. This initiative has been identified as one of the 12 priority actions under the Communication "Single Market Act II – Together for new growth. In spite of the progress made in the last few years in the functioning of the market, further efforts are needed to integrate the markets, improve competition and deal with new challenges.
As underlined by the Commission's Energy Roadmap 2050 , Europe's energy networks and systems and opening up energy markets further are essential in making the transition to a low-carbon economy and maintaining secure supplies at the lowest possible cost. It stressed the need to:
invest urgently in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, as well as storage. Existing energy systems need to be modernised, at a cost estimated at EUR 1000 billion); encourage more efficiency measures, stimulate fair competition, and empower consumers to take an active role and fully exercise their rights and choices.
Accordingly, the European Heads of State or Government set a clear deadline of 2014 for completion of the internal energy market.
By 2014 the existing legislation needs to be implemented in full. Cross-border markets for gas and electricity must be up and running in all parts of the EU and the implementation of plans to complete, modernise and smarten EU grids must be well under way. Today the EU is not on track to meet this deadline:
the generation market is still highly concentrated. In eight Member States more than 80% of power generation is still controlled by the historic incumbent; energy markets in general are perceived not to be transparent or sufficiently open for newcomers, including demand-side service providers; economically rational investments in energy efficiency are not being made – or at least not enough; consumer satisfaction is low even in Member States that today have fairly competitive energy markets.
Challenges to be met : although the benefits of a well-functioning internal energy market are becoming progressively visible, there are challenges that need to be tackled urgently in order to complete the internal energy market by 2014.
(1) Implement internal market legislation and actively enforce competition rules : the architecture for the internal energy market is laid out in the Third energy package. The building blocks are there but they must be implemented effectively for the internal energy market to work.
The Commission is pursuing, as a matter of priority, infringement procedures against those Member States that have not yet fully transposed the Third energy package Directives or have failed to do so correctly. It intends to provide regular updates on the state of implementation of internal energy market legislation in individual Member States and on the infringement procedures.
Furthermore, the Commission:
will enforce competition rules to ensure that all companies in the market are treated equally and that a level playing field is established and maintained; will press public authorities ensuring that concessions (e.g. for hydro power generation facilities, storage facilities or the operation of distribution grids), are awarded in full compliance with Treaty principles and EU legislation; will promote regional initiatives to help set up additional regional gas hubs and power exchanges, and reach the target of full market coupling in electricity across the EU as soon as possible.
Member States, for their part, must stimulate competition by developing infrastructure , in particular in support of cross-border activity, and eliminating market entry barriers.
(2) Help consumers take advantage of opportunities afforded by the internal market : currently, SMEs and households are more passive than large industrial customers and are therefore losing out as available price differentials remain unexploited.
In this area, the challenges are: i) enabling the delivery of diverse and innovative services to consumers; ii) ensuring targeted assistance to give vulnerable consumers better protection.
The Commission feels that timely deployment of smart meters as set out in the EU acquis can trigger demand-response and other innovative and smart services.
However, at present, price regulation in many Member States prevents suppliers from offering attractive services and tailor-made and dynamic pricing schemes. It discourages new entrants that could challenge the incumbents. In some Member States prices are even regulated by the State for some or all customer groups at levels below market costs. It is clear that such a situation is not conducive to the development of a competitive market and is economically unsustainable.
A recent European Court of Justice ruling states that price regulation can be compatible with EU law only under strictly defined circumstances.
In these circumstances, the Commission intends:
to insist on phase-out timetables for regulated prices being part of Member States' structural reforms; to promote market-based price formation in retail markets, including through infringement cases against those Member States maintaining price regulation that is not meeting the conditions laid down by EU law; to support Member States in defining what is meant by and what causes energy consumers' vulnerability by providing guidance and facilitating the exchange of best practice.
(3) Making Europe's energy systems fit for the future : energy systems are in the early phase of a major transition. Significant investments are needed to replace the EU's ageing systems, decarbonize them and make them energy-efficient and increase security of supply. The internal energy market can help the EU make the transition. However, the system change cannot take place without a properly integrated, modern infrastructure. The Commission will act on several issues:
- Wholesale markets: the Commission considers that properly functioning long-term and short-term wholesale markets, which reflect the economic value of power at each point in time in each area can steer investments to where they are most efficient.
The Commission will ensure the further development of well-functioning, cross-border, wholesale markets in all timeframes by developing network codes. These codes will establish common rules to enable network operators, generators, suppliers and consumers to operate more effectively within the market.
- Security of supply in electricity: some Member States have introduced or plan to introduce separate payments for the market availability of generation capacity, as they are concerned that the 'energy only' market will not deliver sufficient investment in generation to ensure security of supply in the longer term.
The Commission is of the view that if capacity mechanisms are not well designed and/or are introduced prematurely or without proper co-ordination at EU level, they risk being counterproductive, since they will tend to distort investment signals. Accordingly, before introducing such mechanisms, Member States should: (i) carry out a full analysis of whether there is a lack of investment in generation, and why; (ii) seek cross-border solutions to any problems they find before planning to intervene.
- Steering the energy mix to low carbon : currently, Member States use various forms of direct or indirect state support and/or surcharges on consumers' bills for a range of energy sources. Assuming further progress in completing the internal energy market, falling production costs, and evolution in the carbon market, all forms of support mechanisms need to be regularly reviewed.
The Commission will issue guidance on best practice and experience gained in renewable energy support schemes and on support scheme reform .
- More integration, faster modernisation and better use of grids : serious investment in energy networks is needed to enable certain areas of the EU to emerge from isolation and to achieve our Europe 2020 targets. In October 2011, the Commission tabled a proposal for a Regulation on "Guidelines for trans- European energy infrastructure." The adoption and swift implementation of the energy infrastructure packet is essentia as acknowledged by the European Council on 9 December 2011.
Lastly, with the growing need for flexibility and energy efficiency and to accommodate distributed generation and demand-side participation, co-ordinated action is needed with a view to the deployment of smart grids at European, regional and municipal levels.
The Commission intends to: (i) further support R&D and innovation to facilitate the deployment of smart grids; (ii) promote pro-competitive co-operation between the energy and the ICT sector, including innovative service providers for advancing the modernisation of grids and accelerating innovation in the energy sector.
Documents
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T7-0344/2013
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Contribution: COM(2012)0663
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0262/2013
- Debate in Council: 3243
- Committee opinion: PE507.948
- Contribution: COM(2012)0663
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE510.685
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE510.735
- Contribution: COM(2012)0663
- Committee draft report: PE506.370
- Debate in Council: 3224
- Non-legislative basic document published: COM(2012)0663
- Non-legislative basic document published: EUR-Lex
- Committee draft report: PE506.370
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE510.685
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE510.735
- Committee opinion: PE507.948
- Contribution: COM(2012)0663
- Contribution: COM(2012)0663
- Contribution: COM(2012)0663
Activities
- Roberta ANGELILLI
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Regina BASTOS
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Edit BAUER
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Zuzana BRZOBOHATÁ
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Frédéric DAERDEN
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Viorica DĂNCILĂ
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Zita GURMAI
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Mikael GUSTAFSSON
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Anna HEDH
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Teresa JIMÉNEZ-BECERRIL BARRIO
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Ulrike LUNACEK
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Marusya LYUBCHEVA
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Siiri OVIIR
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Marie-Thérèse SANCHEZ-SCHMID
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Joanna SENYSZYN
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Britta THOMSEN
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Inês Cristina ZUBER
Plenary Speeches (0)
Amendments | Dossier |
40 |
2013/2005(INI)
2013/04/29
IMCO
40 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph A (new) A. having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 19 June 2008 on the Commission communication 'Towards a European Charter on the Rights of Energy Consumers' (2008/2006 (INI)),
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Urges the Commission to take steps to bring competition rules to bear on the energy sector, especially as regards the delayed transposition and implementation of the third energy package; calls on the Commission to give details about all the remaining barriers to the implementation of the third energy package, along with clear figures illustrating what their impact has been on consumer energy prices;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Urges the Commission to take steps to bring competition rules effectively to bear on the
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Highlights that cross border tariffs and tariff pancake hinder cross-border flows of energy, market integration and competition between operators; Calls on the Commission to take measures to tackle this issue;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Stresses that only with a stable regulatory framework will it be possible to attract the investment necessary for the continuous development of this market;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Recommends that, when implementing the energy budget of the ‘Connecting Europe’ Facility, the Commission give priority to projects with the greatest impact in terms of operation of the market, thereby boosting competition, speeding up the market penetration of renewables, and enhancing security of supply; stresses the importance of guaranteeing the protection of critical infrastructure, while also considering the issue of costs being passed on to consumers;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Recommends that, when implementing the energy budget of the ‘Connecting Europe’ Facility, the Commission give priority to projects with the greatest impact in terms of operation of the market, thereby boosting competition, speeding up the market penetration of renewables, creating necessary cross-border interconnections and enhancing security of supply;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls for initiatives to be taken to encourage joint planning of energy networks in order to promote the rationalisation of the European energy network, taking advantage of cross-border synergies and a more efficient infrastructure network, which will translate into lower costs for consumers and industry;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the Commission to take steps to eliminate market fragmentation and distortions by phasing out direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies and doing away with regulated consumer energy prices; calls on the Commission, in that connection, to check whether the laws in force in some Member States, which, by granting exclusive rights, create supplier monopolies and thus lead to lower levels of competition and higher consumer prices, are consistent with the Treaties; points to the need to move gradually towards consistency among renewable energy support schemes in the Member States and to promote capacity mechanisms that work efficiently in a cross-border context; emphasises that in this connection great care must be taken to determine precisely which capacity- safeguarding measures are necessary and make sense;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Draws the Commission's attention to the need for the rapid operational integration of national gas and electricity markets, whose functioning requires the formal adoption and swift implementation of network codes with common rules to define mechanisms for capacity allocation, balancing, charging and interoperability;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Believes that
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Calls on the Commission to work with the ENTSOs, ACER and other relevant stakeholders to accelerate the delivery the network codes, to de developed in an inclusive and transparent manner;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 c (new) 4c. Alerts the Commission to the need to ensure that legislation strengthening the powers and independence of national regulators is effectively applied, as a means of guaranteeing the efficient operation of the energy market and protecting the interests of consumers;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 d (new) 4d. Notes that asymmetries in national regulation also lead to asymmetries in competition; calls for ACER's functions and capacities to be boosted so that it will offer more scope for closer cooperation among national regulators in defining a regulatory framework that will not prejudice the functioning of the internal energy market;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 e (new) 4e. Fully supports level paying field measures creating more decentralised and competitive market models, as they create more opportunities for local energy producers and for new industrial players;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Notes that market liberalisation has not resulted in significant options or lower prices for final consumers, and in particular for households; urges the Commission to take steps to
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Notes that as a result of the failure to transpose the third energy package and obstacles to competition which still persist market liberalisation has not resulted in significant options or lower prices for final consumers and households; urges the Commission to take steps to
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Notes that market liberalisation has not resulted in significant options or lower prices for final consumers and households; urges the Commission to take steps to improve transparency, information,
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Believes that in order to make consumers more proactive in the management of energy consumption, they need to be made aware of ways to control consumption, of possibilities for energy savings and of energy efficiency and small-scale production; recommends the Commission and Member States to roll- out price comparison websites and consumer-friendly information campaigns, in which local and regional governments should take active part;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Believes that a competition-driven open European energy market will make for lower prices, as well as enhancing Europe’s competitiveness and contributing to economic growth and consumers’ well- being by virtue of transparent prices, and that, in order to bring this about, the physical, statutory, and regulatory barriers to market efficiency need to be removed urgently;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Points out that the collective switching has already shown some positive benefits for consumers; calls on the Commission to explore study on the collective switching schemes and evaluate possible benefits of the collective switching in energy sector for consumers as well as risks that might be associated with it;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Calls on the Commission to be proactive in detecting and recognising market failures, such as the perceived obstacles when switching energy providers, the lack of transparency in energy bills and the incomparability of energy providers´ offers, which make it impossible for consumers to make a well- informed choice, and asks the Commission to, when relevant, come with proposals to deal with any such market failures.
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Points out that smart metering systems and variable electricity tariffs can offer consumers an incentive to reduce their consumption, and therefore their bills, and can make for greater transparency; emphasises, however, at the same time, that the introduction of such metering systems must be preceded by a detailed assessment of, in particular, the real potential for savings, interoperability or the data protection implications;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Underlines that consumers favour less energy independence and are increasingly willing to invest in own production. Therefore, smart grids and other options which enable consumers to actively participate in the internal energy market should be actively encouraged.
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Draws attention to the advantage of applying variable network use charges in order to encourage customers to consume outside peak periods in the interests of rational energy use;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Advocates support for new arrangements making for effective dispute resolution, in particular alternative dispute resolution, for which legislation is currently being drafted, and restoring the balance of bargaining power between final consumers and suppliers, and highlights the need to promote initiatives that will help secure a more active role for consumers in the internal energy market, which will in turn stimulate competition in the market;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Considers that measures enabling consumers to switch energy supplier without possibility of imposing penalties for the breach of contracts should be implemented at the EU level;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Calls for the prompt transposition of the recently adopted directive on alternative dispute resolution and regulation on online dispute resolution, which are designed to guarantee improved universal EU-wide access to dispute resolution bodies, also in connection with energy-related matters, to ensure that disputes can be settled quickly, simply and cheaply and to restore the balance of bargaining power between final consumers and suppliers;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 c (new) 5c. Highlights the need to prevent energy poverty and avoid inherent market distortions, and urges the Commission to take a specific position on this matter;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 c (new) 5c. Notes that energy sector is very technical and quite complicated for consumers to understand; believes that, with regard to the Working Group Report on Transparency in EU Retail Energy Markets, the same price components should be present in the offer, the contract and the bill and the presentation of this data should be aligned
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Believes that a competition-driven, open, integrated and flexible European energy market will make
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 d (new) 5d. Agrees with WG Report on Transparency in EU Retail Energy Markets that comparison tools and websites can be a good tool for consumers if run in independent, transparent and trustworthy manner; welcomes the idea of verifying the accuracy and objectivity of price comparison tools through on line trust mark; calls on the Commission to explore the possibility of such trust mark for comparison tools and websites at the EU level
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Believes that a competition-driven open European energy market will make for lower prices, as well as enhancing Europe’s competitiveness and contributing to economic growth and consumers’ well- being, and that, in order to bring this about, the remaining physical, statutory
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Believes that a competition-driven open European energy market will make for lower prices, as well as enhancing Europe's competitiveness and contributing to economic growth and consumers' well- being, and that, in order to bring this about, the physical, statutory, and regulatory barriers to market openness and efficiency need to be removed urgently;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Believes that a competition-driven open European energy market will make for lower prices, as well as enhancing Europe’s competitiveness and contributing to economic growth and consumers’ well- being, and that, in order to bring this about, the physical, statutory, and regulatory barriers to market efficiency need to be removed urgently, providing a suitable framework for and protecting the interests of consumers in the outermost regions, whose geographical separation will need to be specifically addressed;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Points to the importance of regional markets and cooperation between Member States in removing barriers, speeding up the integration process and improving network efficiency;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Urges the Member States and the Commission to take steps
source: PE-508.255
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PURPOSE: to set out an Action Plan on making the internal energy market work. CONTENT: this communication recalls the benefits of integrated European energy markets and sets out ways to ensure that the market fulfils its potential as soon as possible and satisfies the needs and expectations of the EU's citizens and businesses. This initiative has been identified as one of the 12 priority actions under the Communication "Single Market Act II Together for new growth. In spite of the progress made in the last few years in the functioning of the market, further efforts are needed to integrate the markets, improve competition and deal with new challenges. As underlined by the Commission's Energy Roadmap 2050, Europe's energy networks and systems and opening up energy markets further are essential in making the transition to a low-carbon economy and maintaining secure supplies at the lowest possible cost. It stressed the need to:
Accordingly, the European Heads of State or Government set a clear deadline of 2014 for completion of the internal energy market. By 2014 the existing legislation needs to be implemented in full. Cross-border markets for gas and electricity must be up and running in all parts of the EU and the implementation of plans to complete, modernise and smarten EU grids must be well under way. Today the EU is not on track to meet this deadline:
Challenges to be met: although the benefits of a well-functioning internal energy market are becoming progressively visible, there are challenges that need to be tackled urgently in order to complete the internal energy market by 2014. (1) Implement internal market legislation and actively enforce competition rules: the architecture for the internal energy market is laid out in the Third energy package. The building blocks are there but they must be implemented effectively for the internal energy market to work. The Commission is pursuing, as a matter of priority, infringement procedures against those Member States that have not yet fully transposed the Third energy package Directives or have failed to do so correctly. It intends to provide regular updates on the state of implementation of internal energy market legislation in individual Member States and on the infringement procedures. Furthermore, the Commission:
Member States, for their part, must stimulate competition by developing infrastructure, in particular in support of cross-border activity, and eliminating market entry barriers. (2) Help consumers take advantage of opportunities afforded by the internal market: currently, SMEs and households are more passive than large industrial customers and are therefore losing out as available price differentials remain unexploited. In this area, the challenges are: i) enabling the delivery of diverse and innovative services to consumers; ii) ensuring targeted assistance to give vulnerable consumers better protection. The Commission feels that timely deployment of smart meters as set out in the EU acquis can trigger demand-response and other innovative and smart services. However, at present, price regulation in many Member States prevents suppliers from offering attractive services and tailor-made and dynamic pricing schemes. It discourages new entrants that could challenge the incumbents. In some Member States prices are even regulated by the State for some or all customer groups at levels below market costs. It is clear that such a situation is not conducive to the development of a competitive market and is economically unsustainable. A recent European Court of Justice ruling states that price regulation can be compatible with EU law only under strictly defined circumstances. In these circumstances, the Commission intends:
(3) Making Europe's energy systems fit for the future: energy systems are in the early phase of a major transition. Significant investments are needed to replace the EU's ageing systems, decarbonize them and make them energy-efficient and increase security of supply. The internal energy market can help the EU make the transition. However, the system change cannot take place without a properly integrated, modern infrastructure. The Commission will act on several issues: - Wholesale markets: the Commission considers that properly functioning long-term and short-term wholesale markets, which reflect the economic value of power at each point in time in each area can steer investments to where they are most efficient. The Commission will ensure the further development of well-functioning, cross-border, wholesale markets in all timeframes by developing network codes. These codes will establish common rules to enable network operators, generators, suppliers and consumers to operate more effectively within the market. - Security of supply in electricity: some Member States have introduced or plan to introduce separate payments for the market availability of generation capacity, as they are concerned that the 'energy only' market will not deliver sufficient investment in generation to ensure security of supply in the longer term. The Commission is of the view that if capacity mechanisms are not well designed and/or are introduced prematurely or without proper co-ordination at EU level, they risk being counterproductive, since they will tend to distort investment signals. Accordingly, before introducing such mechanisms, Member States should: (i) carry out a full analysis of whether there is a lack of investment in generation, and why; (ii) seek cross-border solutions to any problems they find before planning to intervene. - Steering the energy mix to low carbon: currently, Member States use various forms of direct or indirect state support and/or surcharges on consumers' bills for a range of energy sources. Assuming further progress in completing the internal energy market, falling production costs, and evolution in the carbon market, all forms of support mechanisms need to be regularly reviewed. The Commission will issue guidance on best practice and experience gained in renewable energy support schemes and on support scheme reform. - More integration, faster modernisation and better use of grids: serious investment in energy networks is needed to enable certain areas of the EU to emerge from isolation and to achieve our Europe 2020 targets. In October 2011, the Commission tabled a proposal for a Regulation on "Guidelines for trans- European energy infrastructure." The adoption and swift implementation of the energy infrastructure packet is essentia as acknowledged by the European Council on 9 December 2011. Lastly, with the growing need for flexibility and energy efficiency and to accommodate distributed generation and demand-side participation, co-ordinated action is needed with a view to the deployment of smart grids at European, regional and municipal levels. The Commission intends to: (i) further support R&D and innovation to facilitate the deployment of smart grids; (ii) promote pro-competitive co-operation between the energy and the ICT sector, including innovative service providers for advancing the modernisation of grids and accelerating innovation in the energy sector. New
PURPOSE: to set out an Action Plan on making the internal energy market work. CONTENT: this communication recalls the benefits of integrated European energy markets and sets out ways to ensure that the market fulfils its potential as soon as possible and satisfies the needs and expectations of the EU's citizens and businesses. This initiative has been identified as one of the 12 priority actions under the Communication "Single Market Act II Together for new growth. In spite of the progress made in the last few years in the functioning of the market, further efforts are needed to integrate the markets, improve competition and deal with new challenges. As underlined by the Commission's Energy Roadmap 2050, Europe's energy networks and systems and opening up energy markets further are essential in making the transition to a low-carbon economy and maintaining secure supplies at the lowest possible cost. It stressed the need to:
Accordingly, the European Heads of State or Government set a clear deadline of 2014 for completion of the internal energy market. By 2014 the existing legislation needs to be implemented in full. Cross-border markets for gas and electricity must be up and running in all parts of the EU and the implementation of plans to complete, modernise and smarten EU grids must be well under way. Today the EU is not on track to meet this deadline:
Challenges to be met: although the benefits of a well-functioning internal energy market are becoming progressively visible, there are challenges that need to be tackled urgently in order to complete the internal energy market by 2014. (1) Implement internal market legislation and actively enforce competition rules: the architecture for the internal energy market is laid out in the Third energy package. The building blocks are there but they must be implemented effectively for the internal energy market to work. The Commission is pursuing, as a matter of priority, infringement procedures against those Member States that have not yet fully transposed the Third energy package Directives or have failed to do so correctly. It intends to provide regular updates on the state of implementation of internal energy market legislation in individual Member States and on the infringement procedures. Furthermore, the Commission:
Member States, for their part, must stimulate competition by developing infrastructure, in particular in support of cross-border activity, and eliminating market entry barriers. (2) Help consumers take advantage of opportunities afforded by the internal market: currently, SMEs and households are more passive than large industrial customers and are therefore losing out as available price differentials remain unexploited. In this area, the challenges are: i) enabling the delivery of diverse and innovative services to consumers; ii) ensuring targeted assistance to give vulnerable consumers better protection. The Commission feels that timely deployment of smart meters as set out in the EU acquis can trigger demand-response and other innovative and smart services. However, at present, price regulation in many Member States prevents suppliers from offering attractive services and tailor-made and dynamic pricing schemes. It discourages new entrants that could challenge the incumbents. In some Member States prices are even regulated by the State for some or all customer groups at levels below market costs. It is clear that such a situation is not conducive to the development of a competitive market and is economically unsustainable. A recent European Court of Justice ruling states that price regulation can be compatible with EU law only under strictly defined circumstances. In these circumstances, the Commission intends:
(3) Making Europe's energy systems fit for the future: energy systems are in the early phase of a major transition. Significant investments are needed to replace the EU's ageing systems, decarbonize them and make them energy-efficient and increase security of supply. The internal energy market can help the EU make the transition. However, the system change cannot take place without a properly integrated, modern infrastructure. The Commission will act on several issues: - Wholesale markets: the Commission considers that properly functioning long-term and short-term wholesale markets, which reflect the economic value of power at each point in time in each area can steer investments to where they are most efficient. The Commission will ensure the further development of well-functioning, cross-border, wholesale markets in all timeframes by developing network codes. These codes will establish common rules to enable network operators, generators, suppliers and consumers to operate more effectively within the market. - Security of supply in electricity: some Member States have introduced or plan to introduce separate payments for the market availability of generation capacity, as they are concerned that the 'energy only' market will not deliver sufficient investment in generation to ensure security of supply in the longer term. The Commission is of the view that if capacity mechanisms are not well designed and/or are introduced prematurely or without proper co-ordination at EU level, they risk being counterproductive, since they will tend to distort investment signals. Accordingly, before introducing such mechanisms, Member States should: (i) carry out a full analysis of whether there is a lack of investment in generation, and why; (ii) seek cross-border solutions to any problems they find before planning to intervene. - Steering the energy mix to low carbon: currently, Member States use various forms of direct or indirect state support and/or surcharges on consumers' bills for a range of energy sources. Assuming further progress in completing the internal energy market, falling production costs, and evolution in the carbon market, all forms of support mechanisms need to be regularly reviewed. The Commission will issue guidance on best practice and experience gained in renewable energy support schemes and on support scheme reform. - More integration, faster modernisation and better use of grids: serious investment in energy networks is needed to enable certain areas of the EU to emerge from isolation and to achieve our Europe 2020 targets. In October 2011, the Commission tabled a proposal for a Regulation on "Guidelines for trans- European energy infrastructure." The adoption and swift implementation of the energy infrastructure packet is essentia as acknowledged by the European Council on 9 December 2011. Lastly, with the growing need for flexibility and energy efficiency and to accommodate distributed generation and demand-side participation, co-ordinated action is needed with a view to the deployment of smart grids at European, regional and municipal levels. The Commission intends to: (i) further support R&D and innovation to facilitate the deployment of smart grids; (ii) promote pro-competitive co-operation between the energy and the ICT sector, including innovative service providers for advancing the modernisation of grids and accelerating innovation in the energy sector. |
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