# CE2004088EN.01048001.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/480 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/480

---

(2004/C 88 E/0493)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4010/03

by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission

(8 January 2004)

Subject:   Safeguarding electricity supplies

Subject:

The directive concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity (2003/54/EC (1)) was adopted on 26 June 2003. Its preamble (particularly Recitals 23, 24 and 26) stresses security of supply, protection of vulnerable customers and maintaining public service standards.

1

What practical measures has the Commission taken to ensure that Member States comply with their obligations as referred to above? A particular concern, especially in wintertime, is security of supply. The widespread and protracted power cuts in the past year have demonstrated the vulnerability of the existing networks.

How will the Commission ensure that a fully operational internal market in the field of electricity networks does not render operations increasingly unreliable?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 February 2004)

(6 February 2004)

The issue of security of supply is a crucial issue for the successful operation of the internal market. This applies equally for the maintenance and the increase of public service levels and the protection of vulnerable customers. These issues are, therefore, given great emphasis in the new Electricity Directive 2003/54/EC (2), which requires Member States to monitor the demand/supply balance in their electricity systems and to provide for the necessary fall back mechanisms which they can use should the market not be able to guarantee security of supply.

2

Member States are now implementing this Directive into their national legislation. The Commission will evaluate whether they have complied with their obligations on these issues when national legislation is notified to it. Should a Member State fail to implement the Directive correctly, the Commission will commence an infringement procedure. However, the Commission expects that Member States will faithfully transpose the Directive. The Commission will in any event carry out a process of benchmarking and comparison of the approaches taken by Member States to promote best practice among the Member States.

Furthermore, on 10 December 2003 the Commission published a proposal for a Directive concerning measures to safeguard security of electricity supply and infrastructure investment (3). This proposal intends to ensure that Member States have a clear security of supply policy established in advance to ensure regulatory stability and a clear apportioning of responsibilities. In addition, it seeks to guarantee that the necessary investments in cross border infrastructure will be made to ensure both security of supply and the full development of competition throughout the internal market.

3

---

(1)  OJ L 176, 15.7.2003, p. 37.

1

(2)  Directive 2003/54/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2003 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and repealing Directive 96/92/EC — Statements made with regard to decommissioning and waste management activities.

2

(3)  COM(2003) 740 final.

3

---