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EU Parliament clinches political deal on electricity market reform

(EurActiv, 7 Jul 2023) Political groups in the European Parliament have agreed on the broad terms of the EU’s electricity market reform on Thursday (6 July), paving the way for a swift adoption of the proposal in the EU assembly before decisive talks with EU member states to finalise the law.

The electricity market reform, tabled by the European Commission in March, seeks to avoid a repeat of last year’s energy crisis, which saw consumers faced with soaring energy bills due to record-high gas prices.

It is now being examined by EU member states and the European Parliament, which both need to agree on a common text before it becomes law.

While EU countries have so far failed to reach a common position, the European Parliament is steaming ahead, with the main political groups now seeing eye-to-eye on the proposal.

“We have a deal. Broad agreement on Electricity Market Reform with the S&D, Renew, Greens and EPP,” said Nicolas Casares, a Spanish EU lawmaker leading the negotiations on behalf of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D).

Casares, who is the Parliament’s speaker on the proposal, pushed for banning the disconnection of vulnerable consumers and agreed with the centre-right EPP group to wind down emergency measures put in place during the crisis.

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EurActiv, 7 Jul 2023: EU Parliament clinches political deal on electricity market reform