Clean energy for all Europeans
The EU Parliament has approved new rules to create a Europe-wide market for cleaner electricity that is more competitive and better placed to cope with risks.
The package was provisionally approved by the European Parliament, Council and Commission in December 2018 MEPs approved four laws:
- A better deal for consumers
- Energy poverty and price regulation
- Increase cross-border flow of electricity
- State aid to fossil fuels phased out
Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said: "Today's deal marks the completion of negotiations on the Clean Energy for All Europeans package, putting the EU in the lead in terms of rules to accelerate and facilitate the clean energy transition."
"This takes us a step closer towards delivering the Energy Union, one of the priorities President Juncker set out for this Commission at the start of the mandate. Today's agreement on the future electricity market design is a vital part of the package. The new market will be more flexible and facilitate the integration of a greater share of renewable energy. An integrated EU energy market is the most cost-effective way to ensure secure and affordable supplies to all EU citizens."
"The new rules will create more competition and will allow consumers to participate more actively in the market and play their part in the clean energy transition. I am particularly pleased that we agreed on a balanced approach to limit capacity mechanisms and reconcile security of supply with our climate objectives. Capacity mechanisms will not be used as a backdoor subsidy of high-polluting fossil fuels as that would go against our climate objectives."
Jerzy Buzek, rapporteur on the internal market for electricity, said: “The reform of the EU electricity market should make it more competitive across EU borders and support the transformation to cleaner electricity. It gives more power to consumers and protects the energy-poor. It is good for the environment and good for the wallet.”
The next step will be to put the deal to the Industry, Research and Energy Committee and plenary as well as the European Council for approval. The Regulation and the Directive will come in force 20 days after the date of publication. Member states will have until 31 December 2020 to implement the Directive.
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