Commissie stelt Toezichtsorgaan in voor Elektriciteit en Gas (en)

A European Regulators Group for electricity and gas was set up by the Commission today. This advisory Group of independent national regulatory authorities will play a crucial role in assisting the Commission in developing further the Internal Market for gas and electricity. Vice-President Loyola de Palacio said "The Union has recently decided to complete the internal market for electricity and gas: by 1 July 2004 all commercial customers, and by 1 July 2007 all consumers will be able to freely choose their energy supplier. The new European Regulators Group for electricity and gas will contribute to effective market opening in practice by promoting consistent approaches to market regulation throughout the Union".

The European Regulators Group for electricity and gas will act as an advisory group of independent national regulatory authorities to assist the Commission in consolidating the Internal Market for electricity and gas. The Group should in particular help ensure a consistent application in all Member States of the recently adopted new electricity and gas directives as well as the new Regulation on cross-border exchanges of electricity¹ The group will provide a transparent platform for co-operation between national regulatory authorities and between these authorities and the Commission. All market participants, consumers and end-users will be able to provide input to its activities.

The Group will comprise the head(s) of the national regulatory authorities responsible for overseeing the day-to-day interpretation and application of the provisions of the electricity and gas directive and the electricity cross-border regulation. The Commission will be represented. European Economic Area countries and candidates for accession may participate as observers. The Commission will keep the European Parliament informed on the Group's activities on an annual basis.

The creation of the Group, which was strongly advocated by the European Parliament in the course of the legislative procedure leading to the adoption of the new directives, demonstrates again the Commission's determination to move rapidly forward in implementing the new legislation to the benefit of all consumers.

On cross-border transactions issues, the European Electricity Regulatory Forum ("The Florence Forum") and the European Gas Regulatory Forum ("The Madrid Forum") have made important contributions. Whilst the two Fora will remain important as discussion platforms involving all players from government, regulators and industry, it was time to give regulatory co-operation and co-ordination a formal structure.

¹ More information at

 <A onclick="popup(this.onclick="popup(this.href+'&noframes=1',0,0);return false" href+'&noframes=1',0,0);return false" HREF="http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/electricity/legislation/amending_legislation_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/electricity/legislation/amending_legislation_en.htm ,

 for the new 2003/54/EC Electricity Directive and the new 1228/2003/EC Regulation on cross-border exchanges of electricity.

 See at <A onclick="popup(this.onclick="popup(this.href+'&noframes=1',0,0);return false" href+'&noframes=1',0,0);return false" HREF="http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/gas/whatsnew/index_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/gas/whatsnew/index_en.htm

 for the new 2003/55/EC Gas Directive.