Brussels, 15/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - An EU27 round the table discussion during the Energy Council in Luxembourg on 15 June allowed stock to be taken of the state of progress in draft regulations on energy infrastructure and the safety of offshore oil and gas operations.
On the subject of energy infrastructure, delegations taking the floor were generally in favour of the approach set out in the regulation. Only Italy and Germany wanted the criteria and methodology for the selection of projects of common interest to be better specified, and advocated strengthened coordination of regional groups.
On the safety of offshore oil/gas operations, the British and the Dutch do not want the legislative constraints that a regulation would imply. They would prefer the flexibility of a directive, so that their national laws which, they assure, impose very high standards, are not dismantled. This was finally an opinion shared by all member states with offshore activities. The Commission could well show proof of flexibility in this respect, promised European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger. (MD/transl.jl)