Energy - review of the balance of competences

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is leading the Balance of Competence Energy Review.
It will examine the scope and effect of EU competence on energy activities and includes discussion on:

• the internal energy market and its contribution to the single market and growth;

• security of energy supply; import dependency;

• indigenous energy resources; energy infrastructure development;

• energy efficiency; renewable energy; carbon capture and storage;

• the EU external energy dimension (role of EU in international organisations and agreements with third countries); and nuclear and Euratom.

It will not consider climate change and international negotiations on climate change, nor the reduction of green-house gas emissions or EU-ETS. These issues were considered in the Environment and climate change review and which is due to publish its report at the end of the year.

The Foreign Secretary launched the Balance of Competences Review in Parliament on 12 July 2012. This follows the Coalition’s commitment to examine the balance of competences between the UK and the European Union. The review will provide an analysis of what the UK’s membership of the EU means for the UK national interest across thirty-two policy areas of EU activities spread across four semesters – with each stage lasting approximately six months.

We are looking for input from anyone with relevant knowledge, expertise or experience in the field of energy. We welcome contributions from individuals, companies, civil society organisations, think-tanks, governments and governmental bodies, from within the UK or beyond our borders.

We shall also be hosting workshops in London, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff and Brussels to facilitate debate on the issues raised in this energy review. Details of dates, venues and content of the workshops are included in the Call for Evidence document. Please email balanceofcompetence@decc.gsi.gov.uk for more information on the review and to register your interest in attending our workshops.

For full details of the review programme see the Review of the balance of competences.