Member States have decided that the new Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) will have its seat in Ljubljana, Slovenia. This decision paves the way for the timely setting up of the Agency and thus the effective implementation of the Third Legislative Package on the Liberalisation of the Energy Markets.

According to the founding regulation of ACER, the Agency needs to be fully operational as of 3 March 2011. ACER will then complement and coordinate the work of National Regulatory Authorities. Its competences will include the participation in the creation of European network rules, taking binding individual decisions on cross border energy infrastructure and giving advice on various energy related issues to the European institutions.

The establishment of ACER is foreseen in the Regulation (EC) No 713/2009 which is part of the Third Energy Liberalisation Package. Accordingly, ACER will:

• Complement and coordinate the work of national regulatory authorities (NRAs),
• Participate in the creation of European network rules,
• Take, under certain conditions, binding individual decisions on terms and conditions for access and operational security for cross border infrastructure,
• Give advice on various energy related issues to the European institutions
• Monitor and report developments at the energy markets.

The Agency will thus be key to the functioning of the EU markets in electricity and gas.

The setting up of a new Regulatory Agency involves a number of administrative preparations, including the selection of buildings in the host country and the recruitment of staff. Today's selection of the seat is an important step in this process. Above all, it provides those who are applying for jobs in the Agency assurance as to the place where they will be working and living in the coming years. The first Director of the Agency is expected to be appointed in the first half of 2010.