Commission Decision of 15 November 2012 setting up the Electricity Coordination Group

The Electricity Coordination Group, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Group’, is hereby set up.

1 The Group's tasks shall be: (a) to serve as a platform for the exchange of information and coordination of electricity policy measures having a cross-border impact and for the exchange of experiences, best practices and expertise and also to assist the Commission in designing its policy initiatives; (b) to facilitate the exchange of information and cooperation regarding security of supply in electricity, including generation adequacy and cross-border grid stability.

2 The Group shall in particular: (a) exchange information on decisions regarding generation and transmission and their potential consequences for cross-border trade and grid stability cross-borders; (b) discuss specific issues raising concerns on grid stability and/or generation adequacy with a view to come to co-ordinated solutions in line with the internal energy market; (c) review the regular adequacy outlooks prepared by ENTSO-E, in particular where such reports indicate a potential risk to security of supply; (d) promote the exchange of information, prevention and coordinated action in case of an emergency within the Union and with third countries.

The Commission may consult the Group on any matter relating to electricity and, in particular, security of electricity supply.

1 The Group shall be composed of the following members: (a) Member States' authorities, in particular Ministries competent for energy; (b) the National Regulatory Authorities for energy; (c) the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (‘the Agency’) established by Regulation (EC) No 713/2009 ; (d) the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (‘The ENTSO for Electricity’) established by Regulation (EC) No 714/2009 .

2 Each of the members shall nominate not more than two permanent representatives and two alternates to participate in the work of the Group. One of the permanent representatives of the Member State shall be the Head of the Government Department for energy. One of the permanent representatives of the national regulatory authorities shall be its Director-General or President. One of the permanent representatives nominated by the Agency shall be the Director. One of the permanent representatives nominated by ENTSO-E shall be the Secretary-General. Alternates shall be appointed in accordance with the same conditions as members; alternates automatically replace any members who are absent or indisposed.

3 During an emergency situation at Union, Member State or regional level, or in other exceptional situations, the members of the Group may request the Commission to appoint more than two representatives to participate in the work of the Group.

4 The names of members as well as the names of members' permanent representatives and of the alternates of the members of the Group, and of the observers shall be published in the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities (‘the Register’) .

5 Each Member of the Electricity Coordination Group shall register via internet (‘CIRCABC’ website ) and ensure that its membership status is up-to-date.

6 Personal data shall be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.

1 The Group shall be chaired by a representative of the Commission (‘the Chairman’).

2 The Chairman shall convene the Group on a regular basis and shall share with the Group information received from its members whilst preserving the confidentiality of commercially sensitive information.

3 In agreement with the Commission services, the Group may set up sub-groups to examine specific questions on the basis of terms of reference defined by the Group. Such sub-groups shall be dissolved as soon as their mandates are fulfilled.

4 The Commission’s representative may invite experts from outside the group with specific competence in a subject on the agenda, such as representatives of producer or consumer organisations or third countries, to participate in the work of the group or sub-group on an ad hoc basis. In addition, the Commission’s representative may give observer status to individuals, organisations as defined in Rule 8(3) of the horizontal rules on expert groups and candidate countries.

5 Members of expert groups and their representatives, as well as invited experts and observers, shall comply with the obligations of professional secrecy laid down by the Treaties and their implementing rules, as well as with the Commission's rules on security regarding the protection of EU classified information, laid down in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC , ECSC, Euratom. Should they fail to respect these obligations, the Commission may take all appropriate measures.

6 The meetings of the Group and its sub-groups shall, in principle, take place on Commission premises. The Commission shall provide secretarial support. Other Commission services and the European External Action Service may be invited to the meetings of the Group and its sub-groups when directly concerned by the matters to be discussed.

7 Without prejudice to paragraph 6 of this Article, the Commission shall make all relevant work documents available to the Group members via a collaborative workspace with partners of the European Union (‘CIRCA’ website). In addition, the Commission publishes all relevant documents either by including it in the Register or via a link from the Register to a dedicated website. Exceptions to systematic publication should be foreseen where disclosure of a document would undermine the protection of a public or private interest as defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.

1 Participants in the activities of the Group and sub-groups shall not be remunerated for the services they render.

2 Travel expenses incurred by one representative of each Member State and the national regulatory authority shall be reimbursed by the Commission in accordance with the provisions in force within the Commission.

3 Those expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the available appropriations allocated under the annual procedure for the allocation of resources.