European Commission launched second phase of infringement procedure against Romania for the energy sector

The European Commission launched the second phase of the infringement procedure against Romania for the energy sector, because the Romanian Parliament failed to pass an emergency ordinance needed to comply to EU directives, Romanian news agency Mediafax informs.

The Finance ministry sent in February 2008 an official request to the Parliament, urging it to pass the governmental emergency ordinance on amending and modifying the laws on electricity and gas. However, a draft legislation in this regard was not approved by the Parliament, an Economy ministry report reads.

The European Commission thus launched the infringement procedure against Romania for exceeding the deadline to comply with EU directive 2005/89 on the measures needed to guarantee transportation safety and the need to invest in infrastructure in the energy sector.

Economy ministry experts declared that the EU directive does not have any effect on the national energy market or on the activity of companies working in this sector. The first stage of the infringement procedure against a EU member state regards a voluntary compliance with the EU community law requirements.

However, the second one, is initiated if the EC finds that the state did not comply with EU standards and takes the state to the European Court of Justice. However, even in the second stage, the state can still adopt the required measures and avoid a trial.