A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the coupling of the French, German, Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourg electricity markets into a single regional area has been signed. According to the agreement the markets are to be integrated into a single regional area by 2009.
The move brings the German and Luxembourg into the coupled trilateral market of France, Belgium and the Netherlands launched in November 2006.
Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs welcomed the move as a positive step towards a single European energy market saying: “It will bring lower prices for consumers, increased security of supply and will attract investment in new generation capacity and transmission infrastructure.”