From the European Union news website we learn that the European Commission has launched a state aid sector inquiry into national measures to ensure that adequate capacity to produce electricity is available at all times to avoid black-outs (so-called “capacity mechanisms”).

The inquiry will gather information on capacity mechanisms to examine, in particular, whether they ensure sufficient electricity supply without distorting competition or trade in the EU Single Market. It complements the Commission’s Energy Union Strategy to create a connected, integrated and secure energy market in Europe.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Governments have a legitimate interest to ensure that there is sufficient electricity supply – households and industry should not face black-outs. My role is to safeguard that public measures to underpin investment in electricity supplies do not unduly favour particular producers or technologies, or create obstacles to trade across national borders. For example, in some cases it might be more efficient to invest in improving electricity grid connections between EU countries than to build new power stations.” She also said: “This sector inquiry sends a clear signal to Member States to respect EU state aid rules when implementing capacity mechanisms, and contributes to the Commission’s goal to build a true Energy Union in Europe.”

We are further informed that a press release is available in EN, FR, DE and all other EU languages. A fact sheet is also available in EN, FR, and DE.

This is ‘ever closer union’ by, what may be termed, the back door – and David Cameron believes he can opt out of this aim of the EU? Readers will not need to be reminded that a power once ceded to the EU can’t be reclaimed – and energy is now, among so many other subjects, a competence of the EU. Ever closer union takes many forms – and they all encroach on sovereignty and the ability of a nation to decide that which happens within its borders.

As an aside, one can call it a ‘capacity mechanism’ if one wishes – we tend in this country to call it a ‘power cut’ — but in this age of political correctness, just how the hell did the term ‘blackout’ pass the censors?

Just asking………………………….