The Council held a policy debate on key issues such as unbundling, effective Regulation, adequate infrastructure investment and cooperation among network operators, on the internal market of gas and electricity on the basis of a questionnaire prepared by the German Presidency.
Priorities for action in relation to these issues have been identified in the European Council Action Plan (2007 – 2009) "Energy Policy for Europe" adopted last March.
The debate will be useful for the Commission in preparation of its legislative package on the internal market which is expected in the autumn.
Before entering into the debate, the Council was informed about the outcome of the meeting of the Pentalateral Energy Forum (Central Western Europe) that took place on 6 June and the Memorandum of Understanding on market coupling and security of supply in Central Western Europe signed on that occasion.