Legal Frameworks
The Treaty establishing the Energy Community created a set of common institutions and a legal framework within which these institutions operate.
The Treaty and its acquis evolve constantly to incorporate new sectors as well as update or replace older acts. To stay on track with the evolution of European Union law, Articles 24 and 25 of the Treaty allow the adaptation of the acquis and implementing of possible amendments.
For the sake of best possible overview, the Secretariat began to compile the prevailing Energy Community legal framework under one cover in 2008. Seven editions followed. Equipped with a new concept and looks, the latest LF 5.0 edition was released in October 2023.
VOLUME I: FUNDAMENTS
Part 1 of Volume I: Fundaments replicates the consolidated Treaty establishing the Energy Community. Part 2 presents a selection of secondary legislation adopted by the Energy Community Ministerial Council. The selection puts focus on the rules that govern the Energy Community institutional bodies.
Volume I was updated in January 2024 to reflect the 21st Ministerial Council decisions from December 2023.
VOLUME II: ELECTRICITY
The electricity volume is divided into two parts: Part 1 covers regulations and directives, while Part 2 includes technical network codes and guidelines. At its core are nine acts adopted in 2021–2022, forming the new Electricity Integration Package. In addition to previously adopted connection codes, it introduces five new market and system operation codes and guidelines.
The volume was updated in February 2024 to reflect the repeal of two Third Energy Package acts.
VOLUME III: OIL AND GAS
Volume III consists of three parts. It first replicates the Oil Stock Directive. Whilst Part 2 presents the gas regulations and directives, Part 3 groups together the more technical gas network codes and guidelines.
VOLUME IV: CLIMATE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Split in three parts, volume IV presents the sustainability dimension of the Clean Energy Package. Part 1 introduces the new Renewable Energy Directive containing the 2030 target for share of energy from renewable sources. Part 2 presents the Governance Regulation and the concept of NECPs, whereas Part 3 replicates the climate acts incorporated in the Energy Community acquis, comprising parts of the EU ETS Directive and rules on monitoring, reporting and verification of green house gas emissions.
VOLUME V: ENERGY EFFICIENCY
In Part 1 Volume V first introduces the regulation and two directives governing the three dimensions of energy efficiency acquis: target and and policy measures, buildings and labelling. The Energy Efficiency Directive is at the same time an integral part of the new Clean Energy Package. The delegated labelling regulations in Part 2 provide the technical labelling specifications for the given product category.
VOLUME VI: ENVIRONMENT
This volume groups together the environmental acquis in force, varying from strategic environmental assessment, sulphur in fues quality, obligations under the large combustion plants directive, nature protections areas and environmental damage liability. The latest update of Volume VI dates from February 2024 and reflects the 21st Ministerial Council Decision 2024/01/MC-EnC.
VOLUME VII: REMIT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND STATISTICS
This final volume brings together cross-sectoral Energy Community acquis. Part 1 covers REMIT rules for fair competition in wholesale energy markets. Part 2 includes the infrastructure acquis, while Part 3 presents rules on energy and price statistics. The volume was updated in January 2024 following decisions of the 21st Ministerial Council.