On Wednesday 18th June, The European Parliament approved their reports on the 3rd package legislation which includes rules for the internal market in electricity and gas. CECODHAS has followed the preparation of the reports closely and our work in collaboration with CECODHAS Members, the European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) and European Trade Union Federation (EPSU) has helped to ensure the inclusion of articles calling for concrete measures on consumer protection, energy efficiency and fuel poverty.  

Although the report is to be welcomed as a positive development, its final approval is subject to agreement by Member States and a subsequent second reading at the European Parliament. CECODHAS calls on the French Presidency of the EU to take action to reach agreement on these urgently needed measures before the end of 2008.

In parallel, CECODHAS will continue to urge action by supporting a written declaration on tackling energy poverty in the European Union. The declaration, proposed by MEPs Claude Turmes, Robert Goebbels, Miloslav Ransdorf, Fiona Hall and rapporteur on the Electricity Directive Eluned Morgan, calls on the European Commission to present a communication on fuel poverty and on Member States to provide national definitions on energy poverty and develop national actions plans to eradicate energy poverty. If 50% of MEPs sign up to the declaration, the European Commission is obliged to respond. CECODHAS members are urged to contact their MEPs asking them to sign the declaration during the European Parliamentary sessions which will take place from the 1st - 4th September. November 7th is the final deadline for collection of signatures.

> Download the Written Declaration on tackling Energy Poverty here
> Background information: The European Anti Poverty Network Network has produced a publication dedicated to the issue of fuel poverty in Europe which includes an article from CECODHAS: It can be downloaded here in English and French
>You can read the original proposed directive and the European Parliament's report on the EP's Legislative Observatory here