MEPs vote for a clear separation of electricity grids and production:
Commenting on today's vote in the Industry Committee of the European Parliament on amending the directive for the internal electricity market , Rebecca Harms and Claude Turmes, energy spokespersons for the Greens/EFA group, said:
"In a vote in the Industry committee today, MEPs voted in favour of full ownership unbundling. The so-called third option, which would have left the ownership of the distribution networks with the energy producers, has been rejected. This is a blow to the attempts of German and French oligopolies to retain control of the grid and thus impede competition.
It bodes well that a majority of MEPs did not make protection of national energy giants their first decision criteria but instead chose to support the creation of a common European internal market for electricity. This internal market would create fair conditions for competition and access to the grid without discrimination of new suppliers.
Today's decision should also set the course for future negotiations in the Council. Germany and France have to stop blocking a decision on unbundling and should follow the decisions taken by the Commission and the Parliament.
Moreover, MEPs have voted for important improvements to the Commission's proposal, specifically on consumer protection where MEPs voted for a proposal on smart metering and better customer information. In addition, the integration of renewable energies into the grid will be improved."
