Post Article 50 statement on UK-EU Internal Energy Market relationship

As the association representing the electricity sector in Europe, we wish to outline the views of EURELECTRIC on the future energy relationship between the EU and the UK. We welcome the certainty that triggering Article 50 provides and advocate for negotiators to demonstrate urgency in establishing the negotiating framework, while engaging with affected interest parties.

“EURELECTRIC believes in the benefits of free and fair electricity trade in Europe. It is in the interests of all energy customers to maintain the integration of energy markets and to minimise any barriers to trade” says Secretary General, Kristian Ruby.

Following the triggering of Art. 50, we call upon the negotiators to recognise the importance of energy in the upcoming debate and to keep negotiations on the Internal Energy Market separately from those on the EU single market. Key elements to include on the agenda are, among others, the following:

• market integrity and transparency
• energy trade and accessing electricity markets across interconnectors
• climate and environmental rules, EU ETS
• financial regulation and
• nuclear energy.

For further details, please refer to the high level paper.

Given the importance of electricity for the European economy and European consumers, it is essential that the specific features of energy trade are carefully considered in the upcoming negotiations between the EU and the UK. To support this, EURELECTRIC has established a dedicated resource of technical expertise to consider the detailed issues and we stand ready to work constructively with the negotiators to provide technical expertise and other support where needed.