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Energy Challenges for European Competition Policy Action

Energy is one of the key sectors where the action of the European Commission can be most powerful in enhancing European citizens’ welfare. Long term objectives of environmental sustainability and low energy costs for business and households are a priority in the Commission’s agenda. Action on multiple dimensions is deployed under the largely shared conviction that a fully functioning Single Market could be the best means to achieve those objectives.

In this Competition Policy Lab seminar we will focus on the competition policy dimension of the European Commission’s action in the energy sector.

Several antitrust cases are currently pending, most notably: the Gazprom case and the case for alleged price-fixing in oil products benchmarking. On March, 5 the Commission fined Romanian Power Exchange OPCOM or discriminating against EU electricity traders. On the state aid front, the focus is on schemes for renewables in Germany and subsidies to nuclear power plants in UK. By mid of April, new guidelines on how government can found energy projects will be presented by Dg-Competition.

Distinguished speakers from the European Institutions, Academia and Industry will discuss these issues with a broad and high-level perspective – addressing the question of how competition policy enforcement at EU level can be shaped at best to contribute to the achievement of the European Union long term objectives in the energy market.

Speakers

  • Celine Gauer, Acting Director, Dg-Competition, EC
  • Michael Pollitt, Cambridge Judge Business School
  • Wolgang Weber, BASF
  • Chair: Mario Mariniello, Bruegel

Event materials

Summary of the event Download

Presentation by Celine Gauer Download

Presentation by Michael Pollitt Download

Practical details

  • Venue: Bruegel, Rue de la Charité 33, 1210 Bruxelles
  • Time: 10 April 2014, 12:00 - 13:15. A light sandwich lunch will be provided at the end of the event
  • Contact: Matilda Sevón, Events Manager - matilda.sevon[at]bruegel.org