Bulgarian Presidency Enables Member States to Agree on an Updated Role for the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators

With Bulgarian Minister for Energy Temenuzhka Petkova chairing the meeting, EU Member States today agreed on an updated role for ACER, the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators, so as to enable a better collaboration between national electricity and gas regulators.

Commenting on today's success, Ms Petkova said:

"The Council of the EU, part "Energy", agreed on a text for a general approach on the proposal for a revision of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of an EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. The proposal to revise the ACER Regulation is the last legal act of Clean Energy for All Europeans Package, on which the Council has finally reached a general approach. ACER plays an important role in facilitating cooperation between national energy regulators. After intense negotiations, the agreement reached today is balanced, and offers us an excellent basis on which to begin talks with the European Parliament."

At today's Council meeting all EU Member States agreed that the existing legislative framework of ACER needs to be adapted in order to redefine the way the Agency functions, its role and remit. This adaptation would cover the tasks of its director and the board of regulators, which consists of senior representatives of the Member States' national regulatory authorities. However, new regulatory tasks and competences shall only be granted to the Agency if there is adequate involvement of the Member States.

This general approach on ACER enables the Council to start negotiations with the European Parliament, which adopted its position on the Regulation on 1 March 2018. Negotiations are expected to start...