In response to the concerns of several countries in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe that have experienced high electricity prices this summer (see EUROPE 13482/16), the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council will put questions to the European Energy Ministers at the next Energy Council on 15 October.
The ministers will thus be asked to express their views on additional measures that could be taken to improve exchanges between the various regions of the European Union and increase cross-border physical capacity.
They will also discuss the need for greater coordination to ensure that decisions taken at national level take account of their wider regional impact, as well as consider the steps that should to be taken in the region and on the internal market for energy to facilitate the deployment of flexibility and increase the transparency of electricity data.
In South-East Europe, significant price peaks during peak hours in July and August 2024 have had an impact on the economies and competitiveness of countries such as Greece, Romania and Bulgaria.
The European Commission is currently investigating the causes and factors that may have led to this situation, “including high electricity demand during a heatwave”, as stated in the Hungarian Presidency’s document sent to the energy ministers.
The document also points out that insufficient cross-border infrastructure hampers the efficient distribution of electricity between certain regions, and acknowledges that the region of South-East Europe is not fully integrated into the wider EU electricity market, “which may also lead to significant price differences and hinder the smooth transfer of excess energy from other areas”.
To see the document, go to https://aeur.eu/f/dro
Competitiveness. At the Energy Council, the European energy ministers will also be invited to give their views on the follow-up to the Draghi report on European competitiveness (see EUROPE 13493/9).
The exchange of views will focus on the report’s recommendations in the energy sector on which the EU should concentrate as a priority, in particular to maintain competitive energy costs without losing sight of the EU’s decarbonisation and energy security.
The ministers will also be asked to comment on the best way to deploy the massive investments expected at European, national and regional level.
To see the document, go to https://aeur.eu/f/drp (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)