EC opens infringement procedure against Estonia re electricity market directive

TALLINN - The European Commission decided to open infringement procedures by sending a letter of formal notice to 26 member states, including Estonia, for failing to fully transpose into national law some of the provisions of the directive amending directives on the union's electricity market design, which was adopted last year.

The European Commission sent the letter of formal notice to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.

Member states had to notify the transposition of the directive by Jan. 17, 2025. Devised in the wake of the surge in energy prices and agreed by the member states and the European Parliament last year, the new rules aim at making electricity prices for consumers more stable and less dependent on the price of fossil fuels. The implementation of the legislation is key to ensure that European consumers, both households and businesses, face energy costs that are more reflective of the cheaper production costs of renewables, and that the prices are more predictable. The reformed electricity market design also allows for better consumer protection, both in terms of wider choice at the signature of contracts as well as in case of disconnection.

To date, only Denmark declared full transposition of the directive by the legal deadline. The Commission is therefore sending letters of formal notice to the other 26 member states. They now have two months to respond, complete their transposition and notify their measures to the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.

The European Commission also decided to initiate infringement procedures by sending a letter of formal notice to Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Hungary, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden for failing to fully transpose social legislation related to road transport activities.

Member states were required to transpose the directive into national law by Feb. 14, 2025. The directive updates the rules for classifying offenses that can result in road transport operators losing their good reputation, as outlined in the regulation that sets the common standards for road transport operators to provide road transport services within the EU. The Commission is therefore sending letters of formal notice to the member states concerned that now have two months to respond and to complete their transposition and notify their measures to the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.