FINAL DEMAND FOR EU ENERGY LAGGARDS

The European Commission has sent warning letters to ten member states that have failed to implement outstanding EU gas and electricity sector legislation.

The laws, which aims to open up the two energy markets, were adopted at EU level two years ago, but a number of member states have been slow to implement them.

“The creation of an efficient energy market is one of the commission’s biggest priorities,” said EU energy chief, Andris Piebalgs on Wednesday.

“This legislation is an essential step towards the completion of a truly competitive EU energy market and vital for the success of the Lisbon strategy,” he added.

Germany, Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Greece, Spain and Luxembourg are all recipients of the commission letters for failing to transpose the legislation in one or both energy markets.

Piebalgs said that the member states would have two months to react to the letters and that if no further action was taken, “the commission is prepared to take them to court.”

The legislation aims to open up the two energy sectors to competition while “maintaining service quality, universal service, the protection of vulnerable customers and the objectives of security supply,” according to the commission.