Brussels, 15/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 14 December, the Gas Coordination Group, which brings together representatives of member states, national regulators, representatives of the gas industry and of consumers, under the chairmanship of the Commission, continued its assessment of prospects for EU gas supply for this winter and of the state of preparedness of EU and Energy Community (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) member states for emergencies, including the possible interruption of external supply (for a summary of the conclusions of the previous meeting on 18 November, see EUROPE 10023). With Gazprom representatives, the parties considered, in particular, prospects for the supply of the Community market by the Russian gas giant, and also prospects for EU gas demand and the Russian company's investment strategy in Russia and in the EU. The also had an exchange of views with representatives of the Ukrainian gas company Naftogaz, on the transit of supplies of Russian gas through Ukraine to the EU, and the prospects for winter 2009-2010 in Ukraine. The Group's assessment also took in measures to ensure gas supply to protected customers in the countries of central and south-eastern Europe, which were severely affected by the gas crisis in January 2009. The Group assessed gas infrastructure development in the EU, and matters relating to security of supply, to be included in the 10-year network development plan currently being prepared by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) and the European Regulators' Group for Electricity and Gas (ERGEG). The Gas Coordination Group also continued its assessment of several regional supply-break scenarios, to determine the best possible responses at regional and European level. The next meeting of the Group is scheduled for 12 January 2010.
The Gas Coordination Group was set up in 2006, in line with directive 2004/67/EC on measures to safeguard the security of natural gas supply. This text provides for a three-stage strategy in the event of a supply crisis: 1) the gas sector is to take the necessary measures; 2) if these do not ease the crisis, member states are to take national measures; 3) if this is still not sufficient and if it is deemed that the interruption of supply is major (20% shortfall in total imports), arrangements provided for by the EU are to be set in train: the Gas Coordination Group will be convened to discuss what additional measures have to be taken and to help member states experiencing difficulties, and it may thereafter propose further measures to the Council. To improve member states', the industry's and the EU's preparedness for supply cuts, the Commission has proposed a new regulation on security of gas supply (the text still being scrutinised by the institutions), amending directive 2004/67/EC to enhance measures so that more effective action can be taken in the event of a gas emergency. The new text proposes joint infrastructure and supply standards to protect consumers, and preventive action plans at regional, national and Community levels. (E.H./transl.rt)