C 301/10
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
5.8.2022
29.
welcomes the measures provided for in Article 5 of the Electricity Directive regarding the electricity market, as well as the guidelines given (6) on the possibility for Member States to intervene in setting prices for electricity supply; considers that, in view of the current geopolitical situation and its consequences for the energy market, with the increase in and volatility of electricity prices, Member State intervention will be essential, with the dual aim of protecting vulnerable households and micro- and small enterprises and of enhancing competition, to the benefit of consumers over the long term.
Nevertheless, it reiterates (7) that these measures must be limited in their duration, linked to the emergency aspect of the energy crisis and must never become a structural change that could undermine the liberalisation of electricity market management; in light of the increasing low cost of renewable power generation, suggests considering decoupling gas and electricity as a possible measure to prevent high gas prices from affecting power prices; 30. welcomes the legislative proposal to ensure an adequate level of energy storage in the EU for next winter and beyond; underlines that the establishment of such minimum levels should take regional risk assessments into consideration; 31. stresses the need for a better understanding of regional re- and upskilling needs and opportunities; calls on the Commission to use initiatives such as Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe to ensure closer collaboration between industry and the academic world and to launch the Pact for Skills in key industrial ecosystems such as the hydrogen, solar, heat pump and wind sectors; calls on the Member States to accelerate their use of the European Social Fund+, the Just Transition Fund and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) to boost the reskilling and upskilling of the workforce, in line with the need to adapt professional practices to circularity, the use of low-carbon materials and new technologies.
Brussels, 28 April 2022.
The President of the European Committee of the Regions Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS
(6) (7)
See Annex 1 of the European Commission’s REPower EU Communication.
See CoR Opinion on ‘Renewable energy and the internal market in electricity’ (OJ C 342, 12.10.2017, p. 79), by D. Matoniene (LT/ECR), Article 20.