"For France's energy sovereignty, let's reform the European electricity market or leave it"

2023-02-07T10:26:27.638Z

FIGAROVOX / TRIBUNE - In this collective text, signed by more than 22,000 people, including Arnaud Montebourg and Julien Aubert, craftsmen, traders, business leaders and local elected officials call on the Minister of the Economy to promote French interests in the framework of the European market...

Minister,

France has been undergoing an energy crisis for several months which is seriously endangering its economy.

While the rise in electricity and gas prices seemed to be marking time at the start of the year, no one can predict what new tensions we will face in the future.

Our economic fabric has already paid a heavy price and continues, despite tariff shields and shock absorbers, to bend under the burden of energy bills.

Aid or capping schemes are far from neutralizing the explosion in prices experienced by our companies.

The deferrals of taxes and charges only defer the difficulties.

Above all, these different measures treat the symptoms of the disease, but not its causes.

These lie mainly in our energy policy and in the European electricity market.

the French should benefit from prices reflecting the real cost of electricity produced in France.

Our craftsmen should not be in a position to ask for help, but to be able to live quite simply from their work.

The petitioners

This market has entered a phase of massive dysfunction under the shock of the crisis, and the European Union does not at this stage seem determined to take effective measures to thwart it.

The announcements made in December on the capping of gas prices seem very timid, reflecting the dependence of our German neighbors on this energy.

However, the de facto indexation of electricity prices to gas continues to pose a serious threat to the French economy.

It is urgent to completely review the operating rules of the European market, or else, in the absence of real reform, to withdraw from them.

Spain and Portugal have obtained a derogation in this sense.

Why couldn't France?

The questioning of our vital interests, through the weakening of whole sections of our economy but also of our communities, totally justifies it.

The argument of electrical interconnections does not hold: electricity exchanges could very well continue on the basis of a different price system.

Admittedly, our nuclear sector has been weakened by bad national decisions, which place France in a situation of sometimes being an importer.

But the nuclear fleet, which several generations of French people have financed and built, still provides us with electricity at a very advantageous cost, well below the exorbitant prices charged by suppliers.

While the price per MWh at the ARENH tariff is €42, the French should benefit from prices reflecting the real cost of electricity produced in France.

Our craftsmen should not be in a position to ask for help, but to be able to live quite simply from their work.

By remaining in this European electricity market, the French are robbed twice: once as energy consumers, forced to pay unjustified prices;

a second time as taxpayers.

The petitioners

By remaining in this European electricity market, the French are robbed twice: once as energy consumers, forced to pay unjustified prices;

a second time as taxpayers, called upon to subsidize the survival of their businesses.

This aid is necessary in the face of the emergency, but it cannot constitute a lasting response, in a context where the price of fossil fuels is set to increase.

Hundreds of thousands of jobs, the investment capacity of our local authorities and the social cohesion of our country are at stake. On the occasion of the next European negotiations in 2023, it is essential that the French government defend the interests of our economy with the greatest firmness: either the European electricity market is drastically reformed, or France must leave it immediately.

Yes, a Europe of energy is possible!

But it must be built with respect for the vital balances and the energy profile of each country.

The main signatories: (find the full list on

the pourlasouveraineteenergetiquedelafrance.fr website
)

Nicolas Leblanc, Departmental Councilor for the North

Frédéric Roy, baker in Nice

Julien Aubert, former deputy of Vaucluse

Alexandre Jardin, writer

Arnaud Montebourg, former minister

Loïk Le Floch-Prigent, industrialist

Patrick Kanner, senator

Bernard Baudoux, Mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries