Study on the Application of the Competition Rules to the Water Sector in the European Community

Publication: Report
Citation: Gordon-Walker, Simon; Simon Marr 2002: Study on the Application of the Competition Rules to the Water Sector in the European Community. WRc PLC / Ecologic - Institute for International and European Environmental Policy, Swindon, Berlin.

Gordon-Walker, Simon; Simon Marr 2002: Study on the Application of the Competition Rules to the Water Sector in the European Community. WRc PLC / Ecologic - Institute for International and European Environmental Policy, Swindon, Berlin.

Competition Rules in the Water Sector

May - Dec 2002

Language: English
Year: 2002
Dimension: 97 pp.
Project: Competition Rules in the Water Sector
Project ID: 1974
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

PREFACE TO THE STUDY
1.          INTRODUCTION
2.          THE LEGAL REGIME AND STRUCTURE IN THE WATER SECTOR IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES
2.1        Introduction
2.2        Technical Characteristics of the Water Sector
2.3        Relevant European Community Legislation ñ Relating to Competition and Activities of Public Utilities
2.4        Relevant European Community Legislation - Relating to Water and Wastewater
2.5        General Issues regarding the Structure and Legal Regimes of the EU Member States
3.          ECONOMICS OF THE WATER INDUSTRY
3.1        General
3.2        Water Resources Management
3.3        Social Cost and Benefits of the Water Industry
3.4        Economic Characteristics of the Water Industry
3.5        Water Prices
4.          SCOPE FOR COMPETITION IN THE WATER INDUSTRY
4.1        Introduction
4.2        Provision of Services of General Economic Interest
4.3        Possible Implications of Cost Recovery in the Water Industry
4.4        Market Segments in the Water Sector
4.5        Competition in the Market - Common Carriage
4.6        Competition in the Market - Retail Competition
4.7        Competition for the Market - Competition for larger Users
4.8        Competition for the Market - Delegation or Contracting out of Services to third Parties ("Concessions")
4.9        Competition for New Water and Sewer Services
5.          IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF COMMUNITY COMPETITION RULES AND POLICY TO INCREASE COMPETITION IN THE WATER MARKETS
5.1        Competition for the Market (exclusive rights to provide the service)
5.2        Competition in the Market
5.3        Neighbouring Markets
5.4        Merger Issues
5.5        State Aid Issues
6.          POSSIBLE REGULATORY SOLUTIONS TO SUPPLEMENT OR COMPLEMENT THE APPLICATION OF COMPETITION RULES
6.1        Introduction
6.2        Water Sector Regulation
6.3        Role of Economic Regulators
6.4        Implementation of Regulation
6.5        Possible Application of Regulatory Solutions
6.6        Improving Customer Pressures through Public Performance Reporting
7.          CONCLUDING REMARKS
7.1        General Issues
7.2        On the Application of EU Competition Policy
7.3        Regulatory Solutions
ANNEX 1 - COUNTRY REPORTS
AUSTRIA
BELGIUM
DENMARK
FINLAND
FRANCE
GERMANY
GREECE
IRELAND
ITALY
LUXEMBOURG
THE NETHERLANDS
PORTUGAL
SPAIN
SWEDEN
UNITED KINGDOM
ANNEX 2
ANNEX 2a - Information collection methods and tools for obtaining further information
ANNEX 2b - Proposed strategy for a possible consultation of interested third parties
Keywords: Water