International activities

We are contributing to establishment of the European Energy Market through our participation as a member of the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER), and by representing Spain at Europe's Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), and by actively participating in the European working groups coordinated by these entities.

We also collaborate with energy regulators from Portugal (ERSE) and France (CRE) at regional cooperation forums (regional initiatives on natural gas and electricity). We are also participating in development of the Iberian Electricity Market (MIBEL in Spanish) and the Iberian Natural Gas Market (MIBGAS in Spanish), in order to promote integration of the market and development of energy infrastructure..

We are members of various associations for international cooperation in the area of energy, such as MEDREG and ARIAE, which bring together regulators from countries in the Mediterranean basin and Ibero-America, respectively.

The European Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)

The Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) is a European Union agency created by virtue of the Third Energy Package. Its mission is to advance the establishment of the internal market for electrical energy and natural gas. ACER was official established in March 2011 and its main offices are in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

In its role as an independent European entity that promotes cooperation among European energy regulators, ACER ensures that integration of the market and harmonisation of the regulatory frameworks established is achieved within the context of the objectives of the EU's energy policy, in order to create a more competitive, transparent, and integrated market and efficient energy infrastructure.

We participate in the ACER governance bodies as a member of the Council of Regulators, which includes representation by all regulators from the European Union, and we participate in the various working groups.

Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER)

logo ceer The Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) is an association that has its headquarters in Brussels. It was established in the year 2000 in order to promote cooperation among the independent energy regulators in Europe.

Participation in CEER is open to regulatory authorities on energy from countries in the European Union countries and European Economic Area. There are currently 29 members.

CEER shares the same objective as ACER: creation of a single European market so that all European consumers can benefit from a market that is competitive, efficient, and sustainable. While European regulations establish the functions performed by ACER, CEER represents the voice of European energy regulators in the international setting.

The work performed by CEER includes international cooperation, production of studies on regulatory subjects including comparative analyses, and production of guides to best practices and on recommendations regarding energy-related matters.

Ibero-American Association of Energy Regulating Entities (ARIAE)

logo ariae The Ibero-American Association of Energy Regulating Entities (ARIAE) was formally established on 17 March 2000. This is an organisation with an international scope that currently brings together 25 entities that regulate energy in 20 Ibero-American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Venezuela. It also includes the regulator for the Central American regional market, the Regional Commission on Electrical Interconnection (CRIE in Spanish).

ARIAE establishes a forum for communication and cooperation among specialists and professionals from its member entities, in order to promote exchanges of experiences and sharing of knowledge on regulation of the energy industry, including training and authorisation of personnel at all levels. It does this by organizing seminars, forums, and training courses that reinforce the diffusion of energy -related knowledge and regulatory discussions.

Administration of the ARIAE is assigned to the holder of the position of General Secretary, which has been assigned to the CNMC on a permanent basis.

Mediterranean Energy Regulators (MedReg)

MedReg is the Association of Mediterranean Energy Regulators, which was established in 2007. Its members currently include 24 regulators from countries throughout the Mediterranean basin. Its objective is to promote a regulatory environment in the Mediterranean region that is transparent, stable, and harmonised, promoting integration of the market and investment in infrastructure, while protecting consumers and encouraging cooperation on energy-related matters.

Foro del Gas

Comision europea The Gas Sector Forum is one of the most important energy regulation meetings in the European Union, along with the electricity meeting in Florence and the consumer meeting in London. Advances in regulation or implementation of European regulations are discussed at these meetings in order to eliminate technical and commercial barriers to achieve a sole European energy market.

Its importance lies in the fact that all intermediaries involved in the gas market meet together. They participate jointly with the European Commission and ACER (Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators), representatives of member countries, national gas regulators, transporter associations, distributors, retailers, and users.

The Gas Forum is held at CNMC’s headquarters in Madrid. The CNMC is an independent regulatory organism of the Government, whose goal is to ensure efficient economic regulation and oversee proper functioning of the free market to the benefit of consumers.

The document of conclusions reached and presentations of shareholders during the 29th Gas Forum is available at the following link of the European Commission: