| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2012) 663 final (15.11.12) |
| Publication Date | 15/11/2012 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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The European Union needs an internal energy market that is competitive, integrated and fluid, providing a solid backbone for electricity and gas flowing where it is needed. To tackle Europe's energy and climate challenges and to ensure affordable and secure energy supplies to households and businesses, the EU must ensure that the internal European energy market is able to operate efficiently and flexibly. Despite major advances in recent years in the way the energy market works, more must be done to integrate markets, improve competition and respond to new challenges. As underlined by the Commission's Energy Roadmap 2050, achieving the full integration of 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. By 2014 the existing legislation needs to be implemented fully, including putting in place the essential technical rules at EU level, and providing regulators with necessary tools and resources to enforce legislation effectively. 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. Only when this is achieved can consumers start reaping the full benefits of the internal energy market. Today the EU is not on track to meet this deadline. Not only are Member States slow in adjusting their national legislation and creating fully competitive markets with consumers' involvement, they also need to move away from, and resist the calls for, inward-looking or nationally inspired policies. These tendencies are preventing the internal market from working effectively. They even threaten to unravel the progress we have made on the way to the internal energy market. Yet, there is clear added value in pulling Member States' energy policies together and creating efficient and secure energy systems transcending national borders. This Communication reiterates 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. Because of its importance for the deepening of the Single Market, this initiative has been identified as one of the 12 priority actions under the Communication "Single Market Act II – Together for new growth". |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0663:FIN:EN:PDF |
| Related Links |
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| Subject Categories | Energy |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
