In particular, no competitive tender is foreseen and, therefore, the most likely beneficiary of the measure would be the fully vertically integrated incumbent energy company Eesti Energia that has significant activity along the whole value chain from mining to electricity distribution, with shares of more than 75% in all these activities in Estonia.

13. Notes that Single Market rules are frequently implemented by local and regional authorities; stresses the need for greater involvement of regional and local authorities in the construction of the single market, in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and partnership, at all stages of the decision-making process; proposes, in order to emphasise this decentralised approach, the establishment of a ‘Territorial Pact of Local and Regional Authorities on the Europe 2020 Strategy’ in every Member State to create stronger ownership in the implementation of the EU 2020 Strategy;

Just like suppliers, buyers can use their market power to put in place vertical restraints to the ultimate detriment of consumers.

73. Stresses that further action is required to deliver a functioning internal market for energy through a clearer separation of energy production from energy distribution; therefore welcomes the Commission proposal for further action aiming to achieve this separation, accompanied by stronger independent regulatory control which considers the interest of Europe as a whole; insists that this action, together with national measures, must deliver on the European Union's target of 10% minimum interconnection levels, by identifying key bottlenecks and appointing coordinators; believes that a clear and stable political framework and a competitive energy market are needed to establish a high degree of competitiveness, energy independence, long- ...[+++]term stability, efficiency, environmental sensitivity and security of supply, and calls on the 2007 Spring European Council to provide a broader vision of the common European interest in the energy field, in order to place the completion of the internal market within a clear political framework, which is currently lacking;

73. Stresses that further action is required to deliver a functioning internal market for energy through a clearer separation of energy production from energy distribution; therefore welcomes the Commission proposal for further action aiming to achieve this separation, accompanied by stronger independent regulatory control which considers the interest of Europe as a whole; insists that this action, together with national measures, must deliver on the European Union's target of 10% minimum interconnection levels, by identifying key bottlenecks and appointing coordinators; believes that a clear and stable political framework and a competitive energy market are needed to establish a high degree of competitiveness, energy independence, long- ...[+++]term stability, efficiency, environmental sensitivity and security of supply, and calls on the 2007 Spring European Council to provide a broader vision of the common European interest in the energy field, in order to place the completion of the internal market within a clear political framework, which is currently lacking;

Although harmonised dates for full market opening are a prerequisite for a well functioning market, qualitative aspects must be brought to the centre of the political debate if a truly functioning market is to be established.