By Chryssa Liaggou - Kathimerini
Greece faces several charges of non-compliance with European Union directives in the energy sector and may soon find itself defending yet another batch of cases before the European Court. Greece is not the only country being targeted by the Commission: Another 17 of the EU’s 25 members face disciplinary action of one kind or another. The Commission’s warnings of possible action, however, are an indication of the failure, so far, to sufficiently deregulate the energy market. The Commission appears determined to run roughshod over all obstacles to an integrated, deregulated energy market. “The Commission is closely monitoring the transcription of (EU) directives to the member states’ laws, not only according to the letter, but also the spirit of the law,” European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said. The warning is worrying the Greek government, which expects to be taken to court over the lack of a real alternative electricity supplier to the state-controlled Public Power Corporation.
Insufficient compliance
The Commission’s accusation of insufficient compliance with the EU directive on electricity market deregulation means that Greece’s relevant legal framework will have to be amended for the fourth time. The previous law was passed just a couple of months ago and Development Ministry officials say that a further revision is a likely option. Officials and experts are also worried about a possible conflict between the existing law’s provisions on private bidders for electricity production and EU regulations. Even if the provisions are found compatible, Greece may still be taken to the European Court because consumers still cannot choose an alternate electricity supplier.
The second case in which Greece is found at fault concerns non-compliance with EU directives on the expansion of the use of renewable energy sources. Cyprus, Ireland, Italy and Latvia have also been targeted.
The Commission wants to boost electricity consumption from renewable energy sources to 21 percent of the total by 2010, up from 14 percent currently.
In this case, Greece has a draft bill which took over two years to draft. The bill, approved by the Cabinet, will soon be sent to Parliament for debate.
Finally, the Commission sent to Greece, Cyprus and Belgium reasoned opinions — the last step before resorting to the European Court — ove non-compliance with EU directives on oil reserves. While Belgium and Cyprus do not maintain sufficient reserves, Greece is taken to task for not providing sufficient data on its reserve levels within the specified deadlines. The Commission has made it clear that sufficient oil reserves are a matter of great strategic importance. The Commission had already sent a warning letter to Greece in October 2004.