Brussels, 05/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The EU is to adopt new rules on exchanging information relating to intergovernmental energy agreements sealed with third countries.
Further to a first reading agreement with the European Parliament, for which the rapporteur was Krisjanis Karins (EPP, Latvia), the Council adopted, on Thursday 4 October, a decision establishing a mechanism for the exchange of information between the member states and the Commission on international energy agreements. The decision will take effect 20 days after it is published in the EU Official Journal.
The new mechanism aims to increase transparency and coordination of the external energy relations of the EU and its member states through compulsory notification to the Commission by the national capitals of bilateral agreements concluded with supplier third countries. Such agreements have an impact on the management and functioning of the internal energy market, or on energy supply security.
Within three months after the decision has come into force, member states will submit all existing intergovernmental agreements with third countries to the Commission. Within nine months following their submission, the Commission will inform member sates where it has doubts as to their compatibility with EU law, in particular with competition and internal energy market legislation. The agreements thus submitted to the Commission will be made available to all other member states, in their entirety or in summary form. Every time a member state signs a new agreement of this kind, then it must be notified. The decision also confirms the possibility for the European Commission to take part, at the request of a member state, in its negotiations with a third country - as an observer.
“This is a first pragmatic step to increase transparency on intergovernmental agreements in the energy field. It will help increase compliance and consistency with the EU legislation. It will also help provide legal certainty for investment decisions often underpinned by intergovernmental agreements and enhance the negotiating position of member states”, Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger is pleased to state in a press release. (EH/transl.jl)