The European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) was established in March 2011 by the Third Energy Package legislation as an independent body to foster the integration and completion of the European Internal Energy Market for electricity and natural gas.
ACER is one of the EU decentralised agencies. Distinct from the EU institutions, agencies are set up as separate legal entities to perform specific technical and scientific tasks that help EU institutions and Member States to implement policies and take decisions. ACER's headquarters are located in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
EU Agencies also support the cooperation between the European Union and national governments by pooling technical and specialist expertise. By fostering cooperation among National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), ACER ensures that the integration of national energy markets and the implementation of legislation in the Member States are met according to the EU's energy policy objectives and regulatory frameworks.