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European Regions appeal to EU leaders for decisive action on energy
08.03.2007, 14:44
How much do Europeans pay for their electricity? Statistics
show that prices are on the rise throughout the continent. In fact, EU
domestic customers paid on average 7% more for their energy consumption
in July 2006, compared to July 2005.
Inside the then EU-25, citizens
from 20 countries witnessed in the same period an increase in
electricity prices: only five countries recorded either a stabilization
or a decrease.
According to Eurostat figures, prices for household
consumption of energy in Europe can vary dramatically, and even
increase fivefold. Have a look at this graphic:
Composition of
electricity prices for domestic consumers on 1 July 2006 (in euro per
100 kWh, for annual consumption of 3 500 kWh) Source Eurostat
On
1st July 2006, citizens in Bulgaria paid little more than 5 for 100
kWh, while Danish citizens paid almost 25 for the same quantity. In
fact, Danish, Dutch and Italian citizens pay more for their electricity
than their fellow Europeans. And if we exclude taxes (which in Denmark
make up more than half of the final price), it is the Italians who pay
more than everyone else in Europe ( 15,48 per 100 kWh), followed by the
Germans ( 14,1) and the Luxembourgers ( 13,9).
It is no secret that
one fundamental reason for this rise is the lasting powers and
privileges granted to national monopolies: only a few countries have
managed to totally open up their electricity markets. The European
Commission made it clear that only full ownership unbundling between
the energy transmission networks and the production/supply side could
bring about a real liberalization of our markets, and consequently a
decrease in industrial and home electricity prices.
European
leaders, who are meeting this weekend in Brussels, should take account
of the need for a genuine single EU market in energy: they cannot
renage on the commitments they made four years ago, when they promised
to fully open the industrial electricity and gas markets by 2004, and
of the household one by this summer. On 15th February, Energy Ministers
stopped short of a real unbundling: now it is time for the leaders to
show that they do really care for citizens, and not just for national
monopolies. The European regions support the European Commissions
request for full unbundling!
At the same time, the European regions
strongly hope that the next European Council will finally provide a
real and concrete input to the use of alternative, renewable energy
sources. We, the regions, already work hard to establish projects in
this field, but we need all our national governments to boost these
initiatives: they are the ones who must provide the adequate
legislation, as well as the necessary finances. That is why we are
looking forward to an agreement on a 20% binding target for renewables
by the year 2020.
Last but not least, we should not forget that -in
only one year- 75 regions have signed the Declaration on 'European
Regions for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources'. Citizens,
as the latest Eurobarometer figures clearly show, are ready for changes.
These changes have now to take place!
ANNEX: LINK TO THE REGIONAL DECLARATION ON RENEWABLES
http://www.a-e-r.org/main-issues/environment-sustainable-energy.html
The Assembly of European Regions-AER (www.a-e-r.org
) is the political organisation of Regions in Europe and their
spokesperson at European and international level. Its vocation is to
defend the Regions' interests in the political process and develop
interregional cooperation. AER brings together 250 Regions from 32
European Countries and 14 interregional organisations.
AER Contacts: Agns Ciccarone, Policy Coordinator for Committee 'Economy and Regional Development', a.ciccarone@a-e-r.org - Tel.: +33-3-88 22 74 37, or Sergio Nava, Spokesperson, s.nava@a-e-r.org - Tel.: +33-3-88 22 74 36 Mobile: +33 678 695235