(21 April, Brussels) The governments, Transmission system operators (TSOs), regulators, electricity and gas exchanges (PXs) and several companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding together to create a regional market in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Germany. This implies that there will be one set of common rules for the region. The first steps are to create harmonised standards for auctions and IT platforms. A Capacity Auction Services Company will be created in which 7 TSOs will be shareholder.

To discuss this development trade union and works council representatives of these TSOs came together 18 April 2008 Brussels. They exchanged information on how Elia (be) TenneT (ne) RWE Stromnetz, EnBw Stromnetz EON Netz (ge), RTE (fr) and Cegedel (lux) have informed the works councils of these developments. This has not happened in some cases. Concerns were expressed about the consequences of future developments and information and consultation rights.

The unionists discussed the regional developments, noting that similar activities must be taking place in other regions and the importance to be active as also investment plans are considered on a regional basis. Concerns were raised about the often not transparent way in which regulators establish the rates and their elements for electricity transport. A worrisome development is that there is an increasing need for investment in the networks which drives prices up on the one hand while at the same time there is political pressure and ideological promises that a liberalised market would bring prices down. Regulators could be tempted to put the pressure on pay and conditions such as pensions to reduce rates. The group warned that this (often accompanied by outsourcing) would have an impact on motivation and security.