The Regional Initiatives process
The ERGEG Regional Initiatives
Launched with the support of the European Commission (in Spring 2006), the Regional Initiatives created seven electricity and three gas regions as an interim step to complete the single energy market.
This process has been beneficial in fostering market integration and delivering improvements in market functioning. In electricity the regions improved capacity allocation and congestion management methods and increased transparency, while in gas interconnection issues, transparency and security of supply issues received attention.
All relevant material related to the ERGEG Regional Initiatives is available on the old ERGEG RI Webpage
In a new context ACER gives new impetus
The entry into force of the Third energy package and the strong commitment of the Member States to complete the internal energy market by 2014 sets a firm regulatory, institutional and political background to achieve this goal.
Nevertheless, 2014 remains an ambitious target date, which requires not only the full mobilization of stakeholders in the energy sector, but also the renewal of the national commitments in the Regional Initiatives process ready to integrate the regions into a single market area.
What are the features of the new Regional Initiatives approach?
- An EU Energy Work Plan for 2011-2014 based on clear, commonly agreed objectives and milestones.
- A Pan-European/ cross regional dimension that at its completion delivers the single energy market.
- A project-oriented approach on top of the traditional regional layer where newly designated project lead regulators follow up each project.
- A flexible approach for governance and regional definition to fit in to the new reality.
- A regular (quarterly and annual) reporting to the public, where the projects stand and how they contribute to the completion of the milestones
- Building on the voluntary stakeholder participation based on existing or newly created frameworks (AESAG).
- A more efficient dispute resolution for cross-border issues with the involvement of ACER.
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