High level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and the Environment
(31 May 2006) ETUC statement to High Level Group stresses employment and energy democracy
(5 April 2006) The European Commission established the high level group to address issues where competitiveness, energy and environmental policies inter-relate. It has a mandate for two years. There are 4 Commissioners, representatives of several governments, industry, regulators, competition authorities, environmental organisations and the social partners. The ETUC is represented by the ETUC General Secretary. Members of Parliament can also participate but they have not nominated their representatives as Parliament has questions over its institutional role in this - the Commission should make proposals to Parliament and it will then judge - and the representativeness of the group. The representatives can be assisted by so-called Sherpa’s who prepare discussions for the high level meeting. ETUC has delegated Dave Feickert, UK trade union energy expert who works for the TUC.
The high level group has established 4 ad hoc working groups:
The functioning of the electricity and gas markets
EU emissions trading scheme
Competitiveness of and access to cost-effective energy inputs for energy intensive industries
Energy efficiency and energy technologies
EPSU Deputy General Secretary assisted in the first meeting of the internal market group as expert.
The working group addressed amongst others:
- Current regulatory framework (adequacy of existing regulatory rules; relation between security of supply and internal market; interconnection, gas storage and cross-border trade and competition; investment)
- Competition and price-setting mechanisms (issue of high market concentration, correlation between electricity prices and cost of primary energies; price setting mechanisms; transparency requirements, price differentials)
- Predictability (alternative solutions especially for energy intensive industries - long term contracts
Based on the contributions of the experts, the Commission will prepare an issues paper for a meeting of the Sherpa’s who will prepare for the High Level Group.
Official Journal of the European Union 23/12/2005
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