Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity. amending the proposal of the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty
Date: 2003-07-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: cross-border transport, electrical energy, electricity supply, energy grid, energy transport, market access

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 23.7.2003
COM(2003) 420 final

2001/0078 (COD)

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION

pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty,
on the European Parliament's amendments
to the Council's common position regarding the
proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
AND OF THE COUNCIL

on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity.

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the
EC Treaty

2001/0078 (COD)

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION

pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty,
on the European Parliament's amendments
to the Council's common position regarding the
proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
AND OF THE COUNCIL

on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity.

1.

INTRODUCTION

Article 251(2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty provides that the Commission is
to  deliver  an  opinion  on  the  amendments  proposed  by  the  European  Parliament  at  second
reading.  The  Commission  sets  out  its  opinion  below  on  the  4  amendments  proposed  by
Parliament.

2.

BACKGROUND

The Commission adopted its proposal of the  draft  Regulation on 13  March 2001, as part of
the internal energy market package, consisting of the Regulation and a revised electricity and
gas directive.

The  European  Parliament  adopted  its  first  reading  on  13  March  2002  and  the  Commission
adopted its modified proposal on 7 June 2002. The Council adopted its common position on 3
February 2003 unanimously, which the Commission supported.

The 4 amendments  voted  by  the  European  Parliament  are  part  of  a  compromise  package  of
amendments on the three texts of the internal market package. The package was accepted in
its totality in the plenary vote by the EP on 4 June 2003. The Council on 16 June adopted by
unanimity all 4 amendments voted by Parliament.

3.

PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSAL

The objective of the proposal is to promote cross-border trade in electricity, which is currently
which  is  currently  still  underdeveloped  when  compared  to  other  sectors  of  the  economy,
through the provision of basic rules on network access for cross-border transactions.

4.

OPINION  OF  THE  COMMISSION  ON  THE  AMENDMENTS  BY  THE  EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT

The Commission can accept all 4 amendments since they provide helpful clarification to the
text and leave its substance basically intact.

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5.

CONCLUSION

The Commission accepts the amendments voted by Parliament on 4 June 2003 and approved
by Council on 16 June 2003.

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