WRITTEN QUESTION P-3106/00 by W.G. van Velzen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Transitional law in the electricity and production sector in the Netherlands.
Date: 2000-09-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Netherlands, electrical energy, energy distribution, energy grid, energy industry, energy supply, energy transport, restriction on competition

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/185

(2001/C 136 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3106/00

by W.G. van Velzen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: Transitional law in the electricity and production sector in the Netherlands

1.
Is the Commission aware of the Dutch government(cid:146)s transitional law in the electricity and production
sector, and in particular the stipulations of Article 12 (1), the effect of which is that insufficient import
capacity will remain on the grid in the Netherlands for other industrial partners wishing to take advantage
of the possibility of importing electricity, with the result that there will be no proper (cid:145)competition(cid:146)? If so,
what is the Commission(cid:146)s attitude towards Article 12 of the law?

Did the Dutch government first submit this law to the Commission for examination in the light of

2.
the electricity directive and the competition clauses of the Treaty of Amsterdam?

3.

Can other Member States adopt this approach to coping with the problem of stranded costs?

If the Commission gives its assent to this action by the Dutch government, or by any other Member

4.
States, what is its legal basis (competition clauses etc.) for doing so?

(1) Article 12 states that existing import contracts are to be given priority.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2000)

law
for a transitional
The Commission has been informed by the Dutch authorities of a proposal
concerning the
elektriciteitsproduktiesector)
in August 2000. The information was provided in the context of the assessment by the Commission of
certain measures proposed by the Dutch authorities to compensate for stranded costs of the electricity
sector in the Netherlands.

electricity production sector

(Voorstel Overgangswet

Article 12 of this law stipulates that the grid operator of the high voltage grid on request can allocate
transport capacity on the international interconnectors to the benefit of those carrying out certain long-
term import contracts. The Commission is now investigating this point under its competition law and is
examining its compliance with the non-discrimination obligation contained in Directive 96/92/EC of the
Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in
electricity (1). The Commission has not yet determined its position on this issue.

The Commission is not aware of similar measures to reserve interconnection capacity for existing take or
pay contracts in other Member States. At this stage of the assessment, it is premature to mention the legal
if any, as the assessment has not yet been
grounds on which the Commission will base a decision,
finalised.

(1) OJ L 27, 30.1.1997.

(2001/C 136 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3110/00

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 September 2000)

Subject: Advisory Committee on Fisheries

1.
Does the Commission consider the present composition of the above committee to be balanced in
terms of the number of people belonging to it, their geographical distribution and nationality and other
factors designed to ensure that the committee(cid:146)s assessments can be as balanced as possible?