First breaking up national companies and saying "we need an integrated grid!" sounds just silly to me. What's the word... Oxymoron?
Considering the strong resentment in practically all the bigger member states (barring the UK), this looks like a plan set for complete failure...
If the market would provide, according to the Adam Smith's fairy-tale of the butcher and the baker at the marketplace, it would indeed be a bottom-up approach. But we're talking about a government bureaucracy with a central control mentality and in cahoots with big industrial conglomerates. So "free market" is just Doublespeak. Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. -- Euripides
But that can't be the whole picture, or even the primary focus, can it? I mean, Barroso might be kowtowing somewhat to his "masters", as you put it, but do you really think he would risk the EU's reputation -- or that other EU policy makers would let him do so -- by enabling a neoliberal-appeasing policy which would undermine such a high-profile agenda?
Look at the headlines:
"Creating A Cleaner Continent" "Europe Union Proposes Cleaner, More Competitive Energy Market" "EU challenges world with new climate change target" "EU sets new climate change target" "EU Planning to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions" "UK welcomes tough EU energy stance" "EU challenges world with new climate change target" "EU Seeks to Lower Energy Consumption" "EU plans to use 20% renewable power by 2020" "EU Seeks to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions" "EU calls for 'industrial revolution' in green energy"
Headlines like that create major expectations in the eyes of the world -- and will leave some serious egg on the EU's face -- if the EU doesn't come at least within throwing distance of these targets.
It's great at least to hear about such a bold initiative that raises the bar internationally on what countries should be doing to -- or at least caring about -- with respect to energy policy. Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.
Whenever the energy paper gets to a tricky point it seems to invoke "the market will provide". So, yes.
The EU seeks to do all these things, but the only thing that is a priority for 2009 is market liberalisation. The rest is just targets with no teeth. Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. -- Euripides
The FT's is:
EU readies for energy battle Brussels to crack down on national power groups Kroes may resort to antitrust legislation
Germany and France geared up yesterday for a battle to save their powerful integrated companies from being broken up after Brussels published plans to tackle "serious competition problems" in the sector.
Emissions change are mentioned in the last apragraph of the story and in an article in inside pages. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
And that would be because...? Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. -- Euripides
If you're right, then we're already lost.
But I hope you're wrong. I hope that public opinion, public expectations and preferences, both within Europe and around the world -- not just business opinion -- can influence the EU's public policy. Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.
"There's a problem!"
"Yeah man - hey - yeah - you're right. A problem. I totally get that."
"The house is burning down!"
"Burning down? What? Oh - yeah. Bad. Very bad."
"We must do something!"
"Yeah - do something - right. How about - I know - let's say here's the answer. And we'll pray to this statue of Adam Smith. That always works. Right? Solved. Cool. Yeah. Hey... What were we talking about just now?"
But it would be interesting to come up with a coherent reply to the document, and try to get that to the national ministers that will take part in the discussion in the Council (in March, I believe?). Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. -- Euripides
