On the 6th of May, the Internal Market Committee voted on the report on the Internal Market in Electricity, The report is mainly focussed on the thorny question of “ownership unbundling” ie forcing energy firms to split up their energy production and distribution businesses. But a compromise is taking shape where 8 key Member States look like they might force a deal delaying the opening up of energy markets for 6 years – the so-called “third way”.
EAPN has been working actively with MEP Eluned Morgan, the rapporteur of the report to develop proposals on Energy Poverty, together with CECODHAS and EPSU. Compromise amendments were agreed between all political groups which included:
-
a definition of energy poverty
-
proposals for Member States to take “appropriate measures to address energy poverty in National Energy Action Plans”
-
MEPs did not vote in favour of a system of state-regulated energy tariffs, which have been used in France, but supported the establishment of temporary price caps in the event of sudden energy price rises.
Next steps? On 16 -19 June the European Parliament will vote in plenary on the Morgan Report and on 19-20 June, the EU summit in Brussels will provide a last chance for agreement.
EAPN is calling on its members to lobby MEPs on the plenary to support the amendments on fuel poverty and to further strengthen the provisions. For more information contact Sian Jones – sian.jones@eapn.skynet.be
See:
-
European Parliament: 3rd Energy Package: working documents by the rapporteurs
-
MEP Morgan: Internal market in electricity (Draft, 12 Feb. 2008)
