In a resolution prepared by Werner Langen (Germany, EPP) and adopted by 454 votes in favour, 188 against, with 61 abstentions, during the plenary session on Tuesday13 September, the European Parliament decided to give it support to redesigning the EU electricity market on the basis of enhanced regional cooperation and a focus on improved, more decentralised, and more flexible markets, ensuring an electricity supply balanced against distortions, and more integration of renewables on the market.
The Parliament believes that any measure taken by the member states to guarantee electricity supplies should respond to medium and long-term demand and be devised in the perspective of cross-border cooperation in compliance with EU rules on competition and state aid.
Cross-border capacity mechanisms should be authorised only when the following criteria are met: their need is confirmed by a detailed regional adequacy analysis of the production and supply situation; there is no possible alternative measure that is less costly and less market intrusive; their design is market-based; their design includes rules to ensure that capacities are allocated sufficiently in advance in order to provide adequate investment signals to less polluting plants; sustainability and air quality rules are incorporated.
During the debate preceding the vote on Monday 12 September, Langen explained that when they are no longer necessary or poorly devised, capacity mechanisms create competition problems and excessive prices and are also a barrier to cross-border trade.
The Parliament also stresses the importance of stable and cost-effective renewable support schemes for long-term investment that should remain responsive and adaptable in the short-term and should be tailored to national needs and circumstances, allowing for the gradual phasing out of subsidies for mature renewable technologies.
The Parliament is also planning to give the Agency to the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) a greater role to play, so that it can support and coordinate efforts to develop greater regional cooperation in security and system adequacy areas. ACER is also expected to have greater decision-making powers to help stimulate cooperation on cross-border and interregional issues.
On Monday, Langen demanded that ACER be "given a greater decision-making role" but suggested that this body should not have total market monitoring power.
Following its initiative to redesign the electricity market, which was presented in July 2015, the Commission now has to put forward a legislative proposal for this autumn. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)