I am the first Minister at my department to be responsible both for energy and for competitiveness in Europe. It is a long title but there is an essential link between the two elements. The UK electricity and gas markets are already among the most open in the world. But I am not satisfied with that. Regulation, liberalisation and competition are not domestic issues.
Markets are no longer local.
The Single Market across the EEA should, in theory, mean that companies can develop markets as easily across the Continent as they can within their own national boundaries. The reality is that although some of our colleagues in other EU member states are swift to break into the UK market, the political will to see competition flourish throughout the EEA is stronger in some countries than in others. That's part of the reason why the cost of energy in Europe is still much higher than in the US and elsewhere. And if Europe is to be a full player in the global marketplace, we must address all the barriers to our competitiveness including energy prices. The Electricity and Gas Directives have put the framework for market opening in place throughout the Single European Market.