The macroeconomic reason and objectives, in a normative framework, reside to a large extent in the support, catalysis, and efficiency of activities at the microeconomic level, the gear through which they are built. Responsible behaviour at the macro and microeconomic level involves the dynamic...

This paper discusses the use of economics in assessing some of the important factors of state aid measures. In light of the economic theory and the case law we outline the application of economics for the market economy investor principle (MEIP), and for the assessment of the 'necessity' and...

Competition among producers within an integrated electricity system is impeded by any limited transmission capacity there may be at its borders. Two alternative market mechanisms have recently been designed to organize the allocation of scarce transmission capacity at cross-border level: the...

La normativa sugli aiuti di Stato comporta profili problematici legati, in particolar modo, all’esigenza di individuare in concreto comportamenti lesivi della concorrenza derivanti dall’erogazione di risorse pubbliche a favore di soggetti economici operanti nel mercato comune. Tali problemi...

The EU-wide Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), established in 2005, is a key pillar of Europe¿s strategy to attain compliance with the Kyoto Protocol. Under this scheme, CO2 allowances have thus far been allocated largely free of charge. This paper demonstrates that such cost-free allocation,...

This paper is the first to assess operational and probabilistic externalities of oil extraction and transportation to Europe on the basis of a comprehensive evaluation of realistic future oil demand-supply scenarios, of the relative relevance of import routes, of the local specificities in terms...

Due to the increasing European import dependency, significant additional natural gas volumes will be required. In addition to the Nord Stream pipeline, the Nabucco and South Stream pipeline are projects planned for the next decade to provide further gas supplies to the European market. As one of...

Europe's increasing import dependency in natural gas facilitates a number of new infrastructure projects. However, up to now it has always been difficult to assess the full impact of these projects as interdependencies within the whole European gas infrastructure system were hard to predict. We...

Power production from renewable energies is supported through special support schemes in almost all industrialised countries. This is because they are generally not competitive today although their use offers a number of benefits that are not considered by energy markets. These support schemes...

This paper presents an analytical benchmark model for national intraday adjustment needs under consideration of fundamental drivers, market concentration and portfolio internal netting. The benchmark model is used to calculate the intraday market outcomes if (i) large and small players as well...