Doc. 9976

13 October 2003

Risk of major blackouts of electricity power systems in Europe

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Melčák and others

1.       The United States recently experienced the biggest blackout in its history. In what appears to have been a technical failure, three power transmission lines collapsed, in the process depriving some 50 million Americans and Canadians of electricity for up to 36 hours. The city of New York was without electricity for 29 hours and it took more than two days for everything to return to normal.

2.       In Europe the belief is widespread that the European electricity market is much more efficient and integrated in terms of organisation, regulation, market liberalisation and co-operation between network operators.

3.       This belief, however, suffered a serious setback when, even more recently, some European countries suffered blackouts similar to those in the US and Canada, with the collapse of interconnected power systems in, first, the United Kingdom and then in Denmark, Sweden and Italy.

4.       Ongoing liberalisation of the European electricity market and ever increasing demand for electricity have led to transmission overloads and a higher number of failures in Interconnect Electricity Power Systems. This may in future even lead to total blackouts in many European countries.

5.       The Assembly believes that the present situation is fraught with dangers for the economies and even the social stability of countries and of Europe as a whole.

6.       The Parliamentary Assembly in conclusion calls upon Council of Europe member states to coordinate their action as regards organisation, information, technology and in other fields of co-operation and asks that the reasons for the recent blackouts be carefully examined and lead to basic recommendations for how to avoid them in future, and for increased stability, resistance against collapse and efficiency of the overall European Electricity Power System.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

Melčák, Czech Republic, SOC

Ateş, Turkey, SOC

Baška, Slovakia, SOC

Belohorská, Slovakia, EDG

Brunhart, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

Delvaux-Stehres, Luxembourg, SOC

Devínsky, Slovakia, EPP/CD

Duka-Zólyomi, Slovakia, EPP/CD

Figel, Slovakia, EPP/CD

Frey, Switzerland, LDR

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

Högmark, Sweden, EPP/CD

Jařab, Czech Republic, LDR

Judd, United Kingdom, SOC

Miššík, Slovakia, EPP/CD

Popa, Romania, SOC

Szalay, Hungary, LDR

Tkáč, Slovakia, EDG

Zapfl-Helbling, Switzerland, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group