Brussels, 05/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 29 November in Brussels, the European commissioner for energy, Andris Piebalgs, met the Hungarian minister for the economy, Janos Koka. The latter confirmed that Budapest wanted to be selected as the city where the European Agency for Cooperation of National Energy Regulators is based. Mr Koka affirmed: “Hungary would be an ideal location for the agency because of its central position in Europe and proximity to Russia and Asia”. The European Agency for Cooperation of National Energy Regulators forms part of the 3rd legislative package for the internal energy market draft regulation, which was proposed by the Commission on 19 September (EUROPE 9505) and which aims to set the agency up. Renato Brunetta (EPP-ED, Italy) was the rapporteur for this draft regulation at the European Parliament. The agency would be aimed at expanding the role and remit of the national regulatory authorities, and would be in charge of ensuring that Community legislation is respected and of monitoring Transmission System Operators (TSO). The draft regulation aims to provide the agency with the powers to intervene in situations involving electricity and gas companies, and to impose binding decisions and sanctions. Headed by a Regulators Council which would be appointed by the Commission and Council of the EU, the agency would seek to establish a framework and procedures to ensure efficient and effective cooperation between the national regulators. It would also be up to the agency to assist regulators in carrying out their tasks and, if necessary, provide arbitration in disputes. The agency would have to ensure the effective functioning of the Trans-European transport networks. Its ability to control ten-year investment programmes would, for example, enable it to request a TSO to change its project in order to guarantee adequate network investment. It would also be down to the agency to take direct and individual decisions regarding certain cross-border operations. (E.H.)