EU calls on Swiss to open up energy market
The European Commissioner for energy has called on Switzerland to fully liberalise its energy market so it can play a key part as a European hub.
Günther Oettinger said Switzerland’s excellent infrastructure and flexible water power capacity could make it one of Europe’s foremost energy reservoirs.
Referring indirectly to stalled negotiations – launched in 2007 – between Switzerland and the EU on an energy accord, he said that a full opening up of the Swiss market was crucial.
The Swiss electricity sector was partially liberalised in 2009 while Brussels aims for a European-wide common energy market by 2020.
Oettinger was speaking at an energy congress in Bern on Monday and also held talks with the Swiss energy minister, Doris Leuthard.
Their discussions focused on closer cooperation in upgrading energy infrastructure, research and energy efficiency, according to a ministerial statement.
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