Energy: rules for the internal market in electricity. 'Electricity Directive'

This internal working document considers the main elements which the Commission service used as a basis for preparing the proposals of the new legislation. Firstly, the document makes a point on the implementation of the directives currently in force relating to gas and electricity. Then, it provides more information on public services in the electricity sector, and in particular on the different objectives of public service, such as universal public service obligations, security of public utilites and environmental protection. Lastly, the document examines many crucial questions, such as evolution of prices, the effects on competition and employment in the energy sector and the exchanges with third countries. At the time of the preparation of the present communication, and before coming to any conclusions, the Commission believed that it was important to take into consideration the opinions of all the parties concerned, that is the social partners, the electricity producers, gas producers, transport systems operators (TSO), distributors, consumers and other interested parties.�