MEPs put consumers in the spotlight

"Full ownership unbundling" may sound like gobbledygook to some of us, but the notion is crucial for European energy consumers: separating the ownership of electricity production from that of its distribution is a key element for making the EU market more competitive. The European electricity market has been liberalised for nearly one year and yet consumers are still not benefiting from real competition. Choice is a fundamental consumer right, but for this it is necessary to make sure different operators can access the market and propose their services!

BEUC is therefore particularly pleased with today's vote in the European Parliament on the electricity directive. Although we regret that MEPS did not directly tackle the concentration in Europe's electricity markets, they decided to back the Commission's proposal to fully unbundle the ownership of production and distribution of electricity in Europe. 
 
Monique Goyens, BEUC Director General said: "The European Parliament today took a first, but important step towards ensuring benefits for consumers by signalling more competition is needed. We now call on the Member States to endorse these proposals."

The European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC) was created in 1962 by the consumer organisations of Belgium, Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany. After working together for a number of years, these organisations decided to create a European association, based in Brussels, right at the heart of Community policy. BEUC was a pioneer, one of the first lobbying organisations to set up base in the European capital in a bid to influence the decision-making process.