Commissioner Piebalgs: social dimension of South East European Energy Community

An excerpt from the Commissioner's speech of the EPSU Energy Conference, 3-4 November

“A second major action concerns the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding that the Commission will propose to South East European countries on the integration of social welfare issues into the process of energy market reform. This Memorandum will comprise three chapters, the first that will deal with social impacts - energy poverty, universal service obligations and vulnerable customers. It will also deal with employment impacts, referring both to the creation of new employment and also changes in established patterns of employment, and the phased and sensible application of the acquis communautaire in the social arena, amongst which the principle of consultation will have priority.”

(Read more of the Commissioner's speech and other contributions)