German and Austrian Energy unions met to discuss the future of Energy sector in Europe

(12 November 2014) Trade unionists in Ver.di (Germany) and GPA (Austria) met in September in Cologne to discuss problems and the future of the energy sector in Europe. They signaled the problems of a non-functioning electricity market and its volatility. They discussed possibilities of closer cooperation as the networks in Austria and Germany are closely linked. However they face very different circumstances. Austria has a stable electricity supply from hydropower, but in Germany, electricity supply is swinging from nuclear (banned) to coal to renewables causing problems of sudden shortages or sudden oversupply (sunny and windy weather).

They discussed also the consequences of the “Energiewende” in Germany. Attached is a very good article by our German colleague Reinhard Klopfleisch from Ver.di in German (taken from the journal “energiewirtschafliche tagesfragen”) and a translation in English.
EPSU policy officer Jerry van den Berge participated in the meeting and presented EPSU policy on energy.

One of the conclusions of the meeting was that everyone (citizens, companies and workers) needs a stable energy market and secure energy supply. Liberalisation of the energy market has led to the opposite.