EU countries push for UK electricity market deal

Five EU countries, including Germany, have called on Brussels to speed up talks on the UK's participation in the European electricity market, according to a letter seen by AFP on Saturday.

Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Luxembourg want a November 20 EU-UK summit in Brussels to provide fresh momentum for an electricity market deal.

The summit is scheduled after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham promised to move the UK closer to the bloc, 10 years after the Brexit referendum.

The five countries argue that integrating the UK into the European electricity market would help turn the North Sea region into “the largest clean energy hub in the world”, driven by wind power projects.

“An agreement will thus enhance Europe's energy security and contribute to a competitive economy that centres on access to clean and affordable energy,” they said in the letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council leader Antonio Costa.

One unresolved issue is the “entry fee” the UK would need to pay to join the European electricity market, the countries said.

Other summit agenda items include youth mobility, simpler sanitary rules for food products and the exchange of carbon emission quotas.