EC takes action against member states over energy markets

05 April 2006

The European Commission (EC) on Tuesday 4 April took legal action against 17 European Union (EU) member states for failing to open up their energy markets, writes Jon Eldridge. It has sent 28 letters of formal notice to Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Sweden, Slovakia and the UK for failing to fully implement gas and electricity directives. The letters said member states of the 25-nation bloc should submit their response by a specified date to the Commission’s case for infringement procedures. If a member state were unable to provide credible assurances that it intends to amend its legislation the Commission would take proceedings to the European Court of Justice. The Commission is taking Spain and Luxembourg to the Court of Justice for failure to send the directives to their national legislative bodies. It was also investigating whether Portugal and Hungary have passed laws that conform to EU legislation. “The member states must implement the directives on gas and electricity quickly and in full, not only in form but also in substance," said Andris Piebalgs, commissioner for energy. “Having carried out a detailed examination, the Commission has decided to launch a large number of infringement procedures against member states which have not applied these rules or other measures which are essential to achieve a high level of growth and competitiveness in Europe,” he added. A version of this article was published at ICISnews.

 

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