The EU’s third energy package, which is expected to be adopted mid-year, should improve the regulatory, legal and technical framework needed to promote interconnection. It includes a duty on national regulators to support the development of cross-border transmission capacity to enhance the integration of national markets and an obligation on the European Transmission System Operators to develop an EU-wide network development plan identifying the need for further interconnection. The UK is also actively engaged with the European Commission and other member states on action arising from the second EU Strategic Energy Review (SEER2) and its related Green Paper on energy networks of November 2008. SEER2 highlights the need for improved interconnection both within the EU, especially for member states on the EU’s periphery, and into the EU from third countries. The UK will provide a formal response to the Commission on the Paper before the end of March 2009.