On Tuesday 26 March, the European Parliament approved four texts on the electricity market that were the subject of a compromise between the institutions (EU Council, European Parliament and Commission).
The Regulation on internal market for electricity was approved with 544 votes in favour, 76 against and 40 abstentions. The text of the electricity directive was adopted with 551 votes in favour, 72 against and 37 abstentions. The new rules will introduce stricter limits for Member States that subsidise power plants, in order to prevent the most polluting fossil fuel power plants in Europe from receiving state aid. The measures will apply to all new power plants from the date of entry into force of the Regulation and to existing power plants from 2025 onwards. Capacity contracts concluded before 31 December 2019 will not be affected by the new rules.
The new legislation on risk preparedness in the electricity sector was adopted with 569 votes in favour, 61 against and 34 abstentions (better protection against sudden power cuts leading to power outages).
The rules establishing the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) have been amended and the Agency will have more missions and powers (558 votes in favour, 75 against and 31 abstentions).
The texts will still have to be formally approved by the EU Council and published in the Official Journal of the EU (see EUROPE 12163/5, 12144/2, 12158/27). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)