(23 April 2009) The European Parliament approved the final agreement on the internal market for electricity and gas 22 April 2009. This agreement negotiated between Commission, Parliament and Council does foresee two points which have been crucial for EPSU unions. It no longer forces ownership unbundling and gives Member States options. It further strengthens protection of vulnerable users and demands of governments to consider measures to address energy poverty. “While the EP has approved key issues for EPSU members, it has not strengthened the democratic control of the regulator, did not address employment and skill issues and does not foresee a comprehensive review of the internal market", says Jan Willem Goudriaan. “We know the internal market does not function well and further makes addressing climate change more complicated.” This Directive will now become law.

To read more:
 For the news flash of the European Parliament with a summary of the decisions

 The full text of the new directives is available here

 On nuclear safety the European Parliament accepted crucial amendments that extend the safety framework also to subcontractors and their workers. This is crucial as they often fall outside the stringent safety norms that protect nuclear workers. It will now be for the Council (member state governments to also approve the changes).

 www.europarl.europa.eu

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