Another key argument for delaying privatization was that privatization preceded the establishment of an independent energy regulatory authority.

It is made up of the national energy regulatory authorities of the EU Member States.

ERGEG's members are the heads of the national energy regulatory authorities in the EU's 27 Member States.

I believe that the regulatory authorities, as selected and decided by the Commission, especially the energy regulatory authorities, play an important role in maintaining their independence from the competition committee.

CEER membership is open to the national energy regulatory authorities of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA).

In March 2000, ten national energy regulatory authorities voluntarily signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" for the establishment of the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER).

Do you think, Commissioner, that a strong institution merging the regulatory authorities - such as, for example, as in Holland, where the competition authority has taken over the energy regulatory authority and the telecommunications authority - would be a good model for other Member States as well?