Energy sector inquiry: Issues Paper, November 2005

The initial findings of the Commission’s inquiry presented in this Issues Paper have confirmed many of the criticisms made about EU gas and electricity markets. The findings will be reported more in detail in the preliminary report at the beginning of 2006. The initial findings also confirm the analysis put forward in the Commission’s Report on Progress in Creating the Internal Gas and Electricity Market and emphasise the requirements for action. After a wide public consultation on the preliminary findings, scheduled for February and March of 2006, the Commission will discuss and propose necessary structural, regulatory and competition law-based remedies. These should address the barriers currently impeding the development of a fully functioning open and competitive EU wide energy market as a basis for fairer prices, more efficient allocation of resources and supply, more openness for renewable energies and an economically sustainable basis for security of supply. The final report of the sector inquiry will be published at the end of 2006. The impediments to competition on EU energy markets can be categorized under five main headings: (1) Market concentration; (2) Vertical foreclosure; (3) Lack of market integration; (4) Lack of transparency; and (5) Price issues.