Impact of the 2004 EU enlargement on the EU energy sector

Abstract

This book represents a very thorough evaluation. This analysis is of high quality, as the study was carried out by the Mercados – Energy Markets International, REKK and E-Bridge at a turning-point, when signifi cant changes regarding the market structure and regulation ensued in the then EU-15 countries and the accessing EU-10 countries. At the time, and even today the EU-15 countries do not form one single energy market, but rather individual national markets. Market issues were and are different in each country. Also, in the accessing EU-10 countries radical regulatory changes, market opening processes and privatisation actions along with regional market building are occurring. The changing regulatory environment, the altering market structure, the continually expanding market processes make it diffi cult to give one snapshot due to the complexity of the interdependence of processes. The analysing report examines many aspects of the interdependent energy markets, so it contains very useful information for readers on EU energy markets, as well.