Electricity, internal market: production from renewable energy sources, RES-E

At second reading Parliament adopted nine amendments to the Council's common position. The Commission accepts those amendments which: . - make it possible for the Commission to propose mandatory targets should this prove necessary; - reinforces the argument that it is important to maintain investors' confidence; - make it possible for the Commission to propose mandatory targets should this prove necessary; - clarifies the contents of a future Commission report on the various support schemes for RES electricity; - introduces compulsory priority for RES electricity, insofar as this is possible under the national electricity system; - introduces the possibility of connection costs being shared between transmission and distribution system operators; - requires Member States to ensure that the charging of transmission and distribution fees does not discriminate against electricity from renewable energy sources, including electricity from renewable sources produced in outlying regions. Where necessary, Member States are to ensure that fees charged for the transmission and distribution of electricity from plants using renewable sources reflect realisable cost benefits resulting from the plant's connection to the network. Such benefits could arise from the direct use of the low-voltage grid; - stipulates that in its report the Commission must consider the external costs of non-renewable energies and the impact of public support granted to electricity production; - clarifies that support systems for renewable energies must be consistent with the Community's other objectives, particularly regarding the waste treatment hierarchy. It should be noted that no amendments were rejected by the Commission.�