Press Release: Energy: Commission requests 20 Member States to implement and apply Single Market rules without delay

The European Commission decided on 24 June 2010 to send 35 separate requests to 20 Member States to implement and apply in full various aspects of EU legislation to create a Single Market for gas and electricity. These rules aim at increasing the capacity and transparency of gas and electricity markets. A properly functioning, well regulated, transparent and interconnected market, with market price signals is crucial for ensuring competition and security of supply. An efficient and fully functional EU Single Market in energy will give consumers a choice between different companies supplying gas and electricity at reasonable prices, and it will make the market accessible for all suppliers, especially the smallest and those investing in renewable energies. It will also help the EU to recover from the economic crisis. The Member States in question now have two months to respond to the requests, which take the form of 'reasoned opinions' under EU infringement procedures. In the absence of satisfactory responses from the Member States concerned, the Commission may refer them to the EU's Court of Justice.

European Commission: Memo: MEMO/10/275: Energy: Commission requests 20 Member States to implement and apply Single Market rules without delay - country fact sheets http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/275&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

---