Romanian PM: Govt To Deregulate Energy Mkt According To Calendar

Last week, the European Commission asked Romania to bring its national legislation on regulated end-user energy prices in line with European Union rules.

The Commission also initiated infringement procedures against Italy and Poland, on the same causes.

„According to the internal energy market rules all companies must have the possibility to freely provide services all over the EU and set their own prices which reflect the real situation on the markets. Regulated prices distort the functioning of the market, defining prices which do not reflect the real needs of the market and prevent free competition and market integration. Thus, it maintains a monopolistic situation which leads to either underinvestment or unnecessary high prices,” the Commission noted in a news release.

Should the states in question fail to comply within two months, the Commission will refer their cases to the Court of Justice.

Boc said in February that the Finance Ministry and the Labor Ministry will define the category of vulnerable consumers and will create mechanisms to protect these consumers, as gas and energy prices increase between 2013 and 2015.