Agencies 

Energising competition

Negotiations on the European Commission's latest energy market liberalisation have been dominated by one issue: ownership unbundling. Fierce divisions have arisen over whether companies with energy-generating activities should be obliged to sell off any energy-transmission business, so as to avoid a conflict of interest when it comes to allocating transmission capacity. Countries led by the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands favour ownership unbundling, but France and Germany oppose it.

Europe's ‘parallel' civil service?

What is the best way to administer the expanding and ever more diverse European Union? This question, relevant to all EU institutions, presents [...]

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Letters 

How to create a future for biofuels

Liquid biofuels – ethanol and ‘biodiesel' – have captured the worldwide and European fascination as renewable energy for the transport sector, but the tide seems to be turning now that people are realising the inherent challenges of leaping into a liquid biofuels policy in the absence of adequate consideration of the down-stream results.

NGOs need to come clean over funding, too

An NGO is only ‘non-governmental' if it is independent of government funding and influence – and transparency is only as good as how the information [...]

Energy 

Commission wants quicker fines for energy-market sinners

The European Commission wants to give national regulators powers to fine energy companies up to 10% of their turnover if transmission companies discriminate against rivals. The proposal is contained in a compromise text on energy market liberalisation sent to EU governments on Tuesday (13 May).

EU backing renewable energy in overseas territories

Extra funds for energy initiatives are foretaste of proposals designed to revitalise Atlantic and Indian Ocean islands.

Probe ordered into Scandinavian fuel market

European Commission is worried StatoilHydro could use purchase of Jet fuelling stations to raise prices.

Business 

Spain facing court over Endesa case

European Commission threatening to take Madrid to the European Court of Justice.

US, EU begin fresh ‘open skies' talks

Second phase of liberalisation talks focuses on mergers and aligning rules governing the US and EU aviation markets.

Do manufacturers lack drive for greener cars?

A UK expert on greener vehicles has no sympathy for foot-dragging carmakers.