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EPSU invites you to attend an ad hoc strategy meeting to discuss proposals foreseen by the European Commission regarding ownership unbundling.

As you all know, the European internal market for electricity and gas does not function. The European Commission and many others believe that if you separate the ownership of transmission and distribution networks from the ownership of generation (and retail), this will improve the functioning of the internal market. After unbundling of account, of management and after legal unbundling, this is the next step.

European Commissioner N. Kroes recently pleaded for ownership unbundling of transmission, as well as distribution networks. It appears she is supported by Commission President Barroso. The European Parliament has in the past also supported ownership unbundling. The recent discussion on the Green paper on European Energy Policy further demonstrates this discussion with the Greens and the Socialists (PES) arguing for ownership unbundling of the transmission networks while the EPP (Christian democrats and Conservatives) appear more prudent and see it in the next phase.

The consequences of ownership unbundling can be manifold:
 For publicly owned companies the separation can lead to privatization (otherwise you still have the same owner);
 It will lead to further concentration as companies become more fragmented initially and are easy targets to be eaten up;
 The longer-term consequences of separation for the investment cycles are unknown. Unbundling does not make economic sense;
 Ownership unbundling will put pressure on collective agreements and pay and conditions as it splits the electricity and gas sector further.

Several countries, which have ownership unbundling, have put the transmission lines in public ownership, but this is not discussed in the EP.

If you have documentation on the position of your union and your government, it will be appreciated. Please do not hesitate to send that to us. Also research on this is welcome.

The meeting is to consider what we can do to influence possible proposals, how to stop them, while also considering what alternatives should be in this discussion.

As funds available are limited, the meeting is in English. For colleagues of new Member States (and whose countries are below 100% index) we can consider assistance with travel or interpretation. Please contact me.

The meeting will start at 10h00 and end at 15h00. We hope this allows you to travel on the same day.

The address of the meeting is: International Trade Union House (ITUH), Boulevard Albert II, 5, 1210 Brussels. This is near the North Station and close to Metro “Place Rogier”. Please find attached a list of hotels.

Please react before December 20. Our offices will close over the Christmas and New Year period and we might otherwise not be in a position to assist.

PLEASE React before 20 December to ealmasi@epsu.org.

 List of hotels and area map

List of hotels

area map