July 2019
Clean energy for all Europeans package
Based on European Commission proposals published on 30 November 2016, the EU has very recently agreed upon a comprehensive update of its energy policy framework to facilitate the transition away from fossil fuels towards cleaner (renewable) energy sources and to reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. This so-called “Clean energy for all Europeans package” consists in total of eight legislative acts. The last Council adoptions took place on 22th May 2019. Please find the adoption process for each of the eight legislative acts in the table below : More more information, clic here.
June 2019
Abuse of economic dependence and unfair terms between companies (B2B)
On 21 March 2019 the Belgian Parliament adopted a Bill that added two concepts to the Belgian Code of Economic Law. On the one hand, the law adds a category of restrictive practices, in addition to agreements restricting competition and abuse of dominant position. From now on, companies will also be prohibited from abusing the economic dependence of another company if competition is likely to be affected on the Belgian market concerned or a substantial part of it. The provisions relating to the abuse of economic dependence will enter into force on the 13th month following the publication of the law in the Belgian [...]
Belgian offshore wind energy
On 4 April 2019, the Belgian Parliament adopted a law which establishes the general principles of the competitive bidding procedure (concurrerende inschrijvingsprocedure) for the realisation of new renewable energy projects in the North Sea, such as it is also the case in the neighbouring countries and in accordance with the European state aid rules. By choosing a competitive bidding procedure as a basis for the granting of domain concessions in the North Sea, the following four objectives were established to be realized by 2030 (cf. explanatory memorandum : https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/54/3581/54K3581001.pdf ): 1. additional renewable energy capacity (at least 1,75 GW); 2. a maximum of energy [...]