Brussels, June 25th, 2018 Regulation and Directive on the internal market for electricity will provide a bedrock for the future electricity market in the European Union. From Central Europe Energy Partners’ (CEEP) point of view, the regulatory framework should acknowledge all particularities and discrepancies of electrical systems of EU Member States. While creating a reliable and secure Energy Union with a common set of rules for all European market players, we must take into account the differences among the structures of generation mixes, adequacy outlooks and differing energy system development strategies. Therefore, we strongly believe that these pieces of legislation should guarantee the principle of technology neutrality, which implies a free, market-based choice of energy sources to achieve the expected economic and environmental goals necessary to fulfill the EU’s energy and climate targets for 2030. We also would like to emphasize the importance of the level playing field for all market participants, which will be competing to deliver the best solutions on an equal footing. Moreover, CEEP steadily supports a regional approach to European energy policy. From our perspective, increased interdependencies between national electricity systems and cross-border exchanges are a logical step in the process of establishing a liquid internal market. However, we would like to point out, the current bottlenecks and persisting problems that limit such a regional approach and which the legislator should address. Bearing in mind the potential for further improvement of this file, CEEP calls for inclusion in the trilogue’s negotiations on the following issues: Adequacy assessment We support the Council position expressed in art. 19a paragraph 1 that foresees two-tier adequacy assessment: national based [...]
The position of Central Europe Energy Partners (CEEP) regarding the European Union’s proposal to decrease the highest admissible level of nitrogen oxide concentration to 2,5 mg/m³ (2 ppm) is not applicable to underground mining in European Union, where this level is much higher in many Member States whereas in some leading countries is currently set at 5,0 mg/m3 (according to the legal regulations for underground mining). As a result, we feel obliged to express a critical position regarding the presented proposals of the highest admissible levels of occupational exposure. The proposed level by the European Commission is not acceptable, due to the lack of sufficient scientific, social, and economic impact research on the implementation of the planned regulations. In the mining sector, despite the use of the most advanced machinery and equipment , technologies, and best practices in the field of NO emissions reduction, it is currently impossible to ensure compliance with the norms which are recommended by the Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL). Furthermore, the level of the highest admissible concentration of hazardous agents, is determined for an eight-hour working day, and for the entire period of professional activity. The actual time of exposure of the mining employees to these agents, throughout the day, is lower than that which is established in the eight-hour norm, and it totals: for those employees who are employed on regular 7.5-hour shifts – about 5 hours, for those employees who are employed on reduced 6-hour shifts – about 4 hours. The duration of professional activity of those employees who work underground on regular shifts is limited in many Member States [...]
Central Europe Energy Partners, AISBL (CEEP), welcomes the priority status granted to the Energy Union by the President of the European Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, and actions undertaken in this regard by the Commission Members. This is fully in line with the recommendations made by Mr. Jacques Delors, Mr. Jerzy Buzek in 2010, and the plan presented last year by the then Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Donald Tusk. The discussion so far shows a willingness to put energy in the global context and to end ‘deceptive silo’ approaches. What we all need is to give a wider vision of energy policy based on this global context. The process has to be gradual – but persistent - moving from existing European Energy Policy to the Energy Union. It has to be inclusive, and provide the notion of European solidarity with a new, wider context. The initiative could not be better timed. Right now, the political climate is there to set the Energy Union in motion. The Commission – but first of all – we, the EU Member States, have to use it to our best advantage. The current geopolitical situation on the EU’s eastern border – however unfortunate in itself – has pushed all energy issues, especially Europe's energy security, even higher up the agenda. The Commission’s Energy Union initiative, therefore, has to be seen in its widest possible context – the 5 dimensions reflect a holistic approach across many policy areas, from transport, over competition and agriculture to industrial policy. Just as a reminder these are (as presented by Mr. Maroš Šefčovič – Vice-President for [...]
In a few words
We represent the widely understood Central Europe energy sector (electricity generation, distribution and transmission, renewables, gas, oil, heat generation and distribution, chemical industries, etc.), universities and scientific institutions.
