Spain lags behind in energy efficiency and the internal electricity market

The European Commission has issued an ultimatum to Spain for not transposing the European energy efficiency standard, which EU countries should have transposed by October 2020 at the latest. The EU executive has sent a reasoned opinion to Spain, Croatia, Luxembourg and Slovakia because, after an analysis of the national measures, it considered that the transposition was still incomplete, according to Europa Press. In November 2020, Brussels sent a letter of formal notice to the four Member States for failing to communicate the full transposition of the European directive by the deadline. The ultimatum through a reasoned opinion is the second stage of European infringement proceedings. Spain now has two months to respond to Brussels, which could ultimately take the matter to the European courts if the Spanish authorities do not correct the situation. The European standard establishes a framework of measures to boost energy efficiency and a binding target for energy efficiency in the EU market of at least 32.5% by 2030.

Brussels has also opened an infringement procedure against Spain for not fully transposing European regulations for the internal electricity market, which EU countries should have transposed by December last year at the latest. The European Commission has initiated the first phase of the procedure by sending a letter of formal notice to the Spanish authorities as well as to Belgium, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Lithuania and Poland. From now on, the Government has two months to respond to Brussels' concerns and explain the status of the work to transpose the directive. If the response is not satisfactory, the Commission may issue a reasoned opinion giving a further two-month deadline for the Member State to respond to the doubts before the Community services take the final step and refer the matter to the European Court of Justice if it is not resolved before then. Specifically, the directive defines the organization of the electricity sector in the EU for an integration of electricity markets that are competitive, consumer-focused, flexible and fair.