WRITTEN QUESTION No. 510/99 by Ludivina GARCÍA ARIAS Consumer protection with a view to the liberalisation of the electricity sector
C 348/90 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 12. 1999 networks and closed user groups for their use, comprising voice telephony and data services as from 1 January 1998, and that the regulatory functions are entrusted to an independent body as from 1 January 1998. The Estonian government has recently adopted the draft telecommunication law, which will introduce the regulatory framework in the sector and in particular will establish an independent regulatory body. Even though it appeared later than planned, this draft appears to be in compliance with Community legislation in this area. The Commission expects a prompt adoption of the law once the recently elected Estonian Parliament starts its activities. There is no reason to believe that Estonia does not fulfil its obligations under Article 63 of the EA. It does not seem likely that the creation of a new regulatory body could be hastened by making use of Article 65 of the EA. Nevertheless, in the context of the negotiations towards Estonia’s membership of the Community and the pre- accession strategy, the Commission will closely monitor progress by Estonia in this area. (1999/C 348/111) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0510/99 by Ludivina García Arias (PSE) to the Commission (8 March 1999) Subject: Consumer protection with a view to the liberalisation of the electricity sector On various occasions during debates and in response to parliamentary question on the liberalisation of the electricity sector, the Commissioners responsible for competition and energy policy have announced that the costs of the transition to competition which may be authorised should relate to real investment arising out of former universal service obligations under previous regulatory frameworks which it will probably not be possible to refund in future. Does the Commission not feel that it is inconsistent with the principle of economic and social cohesion for domestic consumers and SME, who will not benefit from liberalisation in the medium term, to be the ones to have to meet the cost of investments made in order to comply with public service obligations? (1999/C 348/112) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0511/99 by Ludivina García Arias (PSE) to the Commission (8 March 1999) Subject: Criteria to assess non-profit-making investment in the future of the European electricity sector What competition policy criteria does the Commission intend to adopt to assess non-profit-making investment effected by the electricity sector arising out of the universal service obligations established within regulatory frameworks prior to the liberalisation introduced by Directive 96/92/EC (1)? Does it intend to consider only the economic evaluations submitted by undertakings and Member States, or will it compare them with independent audits which take the established market value into account? Are its administrative services sufficiently capable of ascertaining whether a part of the investment was financed from State aid at any time? (1) OJ L 27, 30. 1. 1997, p. 20. Joint answer to Written Questions E-0510/99 and E-0511/99 given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (12 April 1999) The Commission is examining the notifications given by different Member States of the schemes they intend to apply in order to offset the stranded costs incurred in connection with Parliament and Council Directive 96/92/EC of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity (1). In the