New rules on security of gas supply

‘EU Legislation in Progress’ briefings aim to provide Members of the European Parliament with systematic and automatic analysis on all substantial proposals for EU legislation at every stage of the legislative procedure. Each contains an account of the purpose, content and legal aspects of the legislation proposed, in particular analysing what the legislation would change, as well as any previous legislation and the background. An overview of stakeholders’ views is also provided, as well as the opinions of national parliaments and the two advisory committees.

They are all made publicly available for stakeholders and the public.On 16 February 2016 the European Commission proposed a new regulation on security of gas supply as part of its sustainable energy security package, in order to develop a stronger collective response to future supply risks, particularly concerning Russian gas arriving via the Ukrainian transit route.

The Commission proposal would replace the existing regulation (in force since December 2010) and address weaknesses highlighted in an implementation report, EU gas stress tests and a public consultation. The Commission proposal seeks to improve rather than overhaul the existing regulation, and keeps many of its key features intact.

Major innovations include a solidarity principle that prioritises households and essential social services during an emergency situation; mandatory regional preventive action and emergency plans (rather than national plans) based on new templates; fewer exemptions on bidirectional capacity at cross-border interconnectors, in order to facilitate reverse gas flows; increasing the scope of contractual information provided to the Commission; involving the Contracting Parties of the Energy Community in security of gas supply measures; and exploring the options for voluntary joint purchasing of natural gas.

On 13 October 2016 the ITRE Committee of the European Parliament approved a report on the proposed regulation, forming the basis for future trilogue negotiations with the Council and Commission.

On 5 December 2016 the Council of the European Union held a policy debate on the regulation and reached agreement on a general approach.

Trilogue negotiations started in February 2017 and agreement was reached in April 2017. The agreed text was approved by the ITRE committee on 30 May 2017 and was scheduled for a vote in the September 2017 plenary in the European Parliament.

Author: Alex Benjamin Wilson

• Primary Source

EP: EPRS: Briefing: EU Legislation in Progress http://epthinktank.eu/eu-legislation-in-progress/

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply and repealing Regulation (EU) No 994/2010 http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-regulation-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-concerning-measures-to-safeguard-the-security-of-gas-supply-and-repealing-regulation-eu-no-994-2010/

ESO: Background information: New rules on security of gas supply http://www.europeansources.info/record/new-rules-on-security-of-gas-supply-2/

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