European energy legislation overview
Introduction
The European Union liberalizes the market with electricity and gas. Behind this laconic statement there are many years of work of professionals on preparation of common rules. Their primary aim is to create conditions for functioning of the market with electricity and gas. Liberalization of power production and gas industry presents not only opening of these commodities to the market treatment but also measures ensuring reliable supplies of electricity or gas for customers. An integral part of the common effort of the EU countries is a customer protection against risks connected with the liberalization of energy sectors. Authorizations and obligations of individual energy market participants in the European Union are legally regulated especially by directives that are obligatory for every country of the EU to implement in its legal system, and also by regulations that are directly effective.
These rules create a legal base that fundamentally affects the energy sector as a whole and also the behaviour of its single elements starting with acquisition, transformation and transportation of energy and ending by their users - customers. Existence and application of individual rules lead to creating the common European energy market and common gas market. The Czech Republic also appropriately contributes to this process. As a member of the European Union we have an opportunity to actively participate in formation of the legal environment and conditions for further development also in the area of energy.
For readers, particularly for professional public we have put together an informative overview of the updated European Union legal regulations from the area of energy that are the fundamental elements for the creation of new legislation.
Ing. Martin Pecina, MBA
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade
Nak Krčské stráni 1434/30 | 140 00 Praha 4 | Phone: 222 362 551 | Fax: 222 362 594