London (Platts)--24Jan2013/832 am EST/1332 GMT
The European Commission has referred Bulgaria, Estonia and the UK to the European Court of Justice because it has not fully transposed the EU's electricity and natural gas directives making up the EU's third energy package and is requesting fines. The directives were supposed to be fully adopted in national law by March 3, 2011. "The EU needs an internal energy market to tackle Europe's energy and climate challenges and to ensure affordable and secure energy supplies to households and businesses," EU energy commissioner Gunther Oettinger said in a statement. "Delays in implementation of the EU internal energy market rules have negative effects on all players and are therefore not acceptable." The proposed fines are a daily penalty of Eur8,448 ($11,252) on Bulgaria for both the electricity and gas directives. For Estonia, the fine is proposed at Eur5,068.80 daily for the electricity directive and Eur4,224 for the gas directive. The UK's proposed fine is Eur48,177.92 daily for each of the two directives. Article continues below...Request a free trial of: EU EnergyKeep track of policy in the complex and confusing European energy arena with EU Energy's clear reports and accurate data. EU Energy provides a single source for news and analysis of EU energy policy, as well as key gas and electricity industry developments in the EU member states.
The European Commission has referred Bulgaria, Estonia and the UK to the European Court of Justice because it has not fully transposed the EU's electricity and natural gas directives making up the EU's third energy package and is requesting fines. The directives were supposed to be fully adopted in national law by March 3, 2011. "The EU needs an internal energy market to tackle Europe's energy and climate challenges and to ensure affordable and secure energy supplies to households and businesses," EU energy commissioner Gunther Oettinger said in a statement. "Delays in implementation of the EU internal energy market rules have negative effects on all players and are therefore not acceptable." The proposed fines are a daily penalty of Eur8,448 ($11,252) on Bulgaria for both the electricity and gas directives. For Estonia, the fine is proposed at Eur5,068.80 daily for the electricity directive and Eur4,224 for the gas directive. The UK's proposed fine is Eur48,177.92 daily for each of the two directives.
Article continues below...
Keep track of policy in the complex and confusing European energy arena with EU Energy's clear reports and accurate data. EU Energy provides a single source for news and analysis of EU energy policy, as well as key gas and electricity industry developments in the EU member states.
The countries would have to pay the fines from the date of the court decision until they notify the EC they have fully transposed the directives. But any court cases are dropped as soon as national laws are brought into line with EU rules. "There will be no fine if the transposition is accomplished before the decision of the court," EC spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen said. She said the proposed fines are only suggestions to the court: "It is for the court to decide the final amount." The EC only refers countries to the court after two formal written warnings. These countries join a growing list of member states that have not fully complied with the EU's third energy package. Finland and Poland were referred to the EU Court of Justice in November 2012 and Slovenia was referred the court in October 2012. --Kimberly Peterson, kimberly_peterson@platts.com--Edited by Maurice Geller, maurice-geller@platts.com
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