Brussels, 07/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - After several months of discussions, European energy ministers, meeting on the sidelines of the Energy Council on Sunday 6 December, finally opted for the Slovenian capital Ljubljana to host the permanent headquarters of the new Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), rather than the Slovakian and Romanian capitals Bratislava and Bucharest. In the first round of voting during June's Energy Council, Ljubljana, Bratislava and Bucharest won 10, 8 and 7 votes respectively. In the second round on Sunday, the Slovenian capital took 15 votes against 11 for its Slovakian rival. Following the vote, Slovenian Economy Minister Matej Lahovnik hailed the “historic day” for his country, delighted that Slovenia was to host “not just any agency, but a very important agency”. “This decision is an important step in the correct and timely implementation of the 3rd legislative package for liberalising the energy market,” said European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.
Under the terms of its founding regulation, ACER must be fully operational from 3 March 2011, the date on which the other legislative acts that make up the 3rd package on liberalising the internal energy market - Directives 2009/72/EC on electricity and 2009/73/EC on gas, and Regulations 714/2009/EC on electricity and 715/2009/EC on gas - must be incorporated into member states' national laws. The putting in place of ACER is provided for by Regulation 713/2009/EC. Under the terms of this text, ACER should complement and coordinate the work of national regulatory authorities. The Agency will help create the rules that apply to European networks. In certain circumstances, ACER will be able to make binding decisions, with regard to the access and operational safety conditions and arrangements applicable to cross-border infrastructure. It will also advise the European institutions on various energy-related issues. Another of its duties will be to monitor and report on energy market developments.
Putting ACER in place requires considerable administrative preparation, such as selection of premises in the host country and the recruitment of staff. The director will be appointed in the course of the first half of 2010. (E.H./transl.rt)