Madrid Forum - European Gas Regulatory Forum

Summary of the initiative

Name
Madrid Forum - European Gas Regulatory Forum
Objective(s)
The purpose of these Guidelines for Good Practise (GGP) is to ensure that Transmission Operators (TSO) aim to provide the quality of services needed by the network users and that the systems and processes promote sustainable development of competition in gas supply. An overriding principle is that systems and processes implemented by the TSO maintain the safe operation of the system, whilst facilitating the development of national and EU competition in gas supply. The GGP are applicable to Transmission as defined in the International Gas Market (IGM) Directive and to which Third Party Access is required. They are a set of basics principles agreed in the Madrid Forum, aiming at the enhanced and efficient functioning of the Internal Gas Market. The GGP may be considered a helpful instrument in supporting the development of a sustainable internal gas market and furthering efficient operation and use of the interconnected EU gas transmission system.

Description of the Initiative

    Sector

    Sector

    Commission DG
    Contact Point - Commission
    ENER.DDG1.B.2

    Self/Co-Regulation Basic Act

    PRIVATE ACT
    Year
    2002
    Title of Act
    Recommendations on guidelines for good practice in relation to Third Party Access services, tarification, balancing etc.

    Geographical Coverage

    Global coverage
    Participating Countries
    Austria

    Description

    Problems that lead to the introduction of Self/Co-Regulation and the adoption of the Founding Act
    Obstacles for new market players in entering the market and for eligible customers really benefiting from competition in the internal gas market.
    Target Group(s)
    National Regulatory Authorities, Member States, network operators, network users;
    Type of Instrument(s)
    Recommendations on guidelines
    Level(s) at which private rules should be defined and applied
    Type of Financing
    -
    Type of Monitoring
    Conduct an initial survey of compliance capacity of future regulateesConduct regular visits and spot checksInitiate complaints proceduresMaintain database of those bounded by the normsProduce regular reportsReceive complaints and verify if norms were breached or notReflexive dialogue with the - stakeholdersOther
    European Commissionyes
    National public authorityyesyes
    International public authority
    Private regulator (code owner)yes
    Private independent party with a mandate (e.g. auditors)yes
    Self-appointed private parties (e.g. NGOs)
    Succinct description of the type of Monitoring
    No specific monitoring system provided, except for the special role foreseen for the Association of European Gas Transmission bodies (GTE). "It is important that progress in implementing the guidelines and compliance with them is monitored regularly by the Madrid Forum. GTE is invited to contribute actively to this monitoring process."
    Type of Enforcement
    Faming, shaming and blamingJudicial sanctionsMembership suspension/exclusionPrivate finesOther
    Private Regulator
    Private independent party with a mandate (e.g. auditors)
    Court system
    Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) / Online dispute resolution (ODR)
    Succinct description of the type of Enforcement
    undefined

    Results of Commission Monitoring

    Year of last Monitoring Results
    2002
    Scoring
    Link / Reference of Evaluation
    The Commission carried out a monitoring report which was presented to the 7th meeting of the Madrid Forum. In order to make up for the non-compliance with the voluntary Guidelines, the Madrid forum prepared a revised version of Guidelines for Good Practice for Transmission Operators, endorsed on 25 September 2003. The Commision eventually decided to submit a proposal to the European Parliament and the Council with a view to translating the voluntary Guidelines into a legally binding piece of legislation. This proposal was adopted as Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2005 on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission network.

    Downloads

    SMO self- and co-regulation database - private code 101