Major European agreement on the internal energy market

The 27 ministers reached a major political agreement on the complete internal market energy and gas package. This agreement, developed from the compromise achieved on 6 June last,  which mainly dealt with the crucial question of the modalities for decoupling the electricity and gas transport networks, was adopted unanimously.

Among the important decisions linked to the adoption of this body of texts is the creation of a European regulatory agency, which will considerably reinforce the coordination of national regulators. These texts will be adopted definitively after a second reading in the European Parliament.

The ministers also reviewed the progress of work on the energy-climate package, particularly on the renewable energy directive, recalling that this package is one of the priorities of the French Presidency, which is aiming for an agreement at first reading by the end of the year, particularly in view of the Poznan and Copenhagen conferences.

The ministers again reaffirmed the primordial importance of energy efficiency, as much for achieving climate objectives as for guaranteeing our energy security. They focused on concrete measures taken in applying the directive on eco-design for energy-consuming products. They welcomed the acceleration of the work and decisions taken recently on electric appliances on standby mode, on public and tertiary lighting and on decoders and also expressed the desire to see the least efficient domestic lighting products banned from sale from 2010.

A last debate focused on energy security, an essential element of European energy policy which should also be discussed by the Heads of State and Government at the European Council on 15 and 16 October next.

• Updated: 23.12.2008

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