Brussels, 16/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Commissioner for Energy, Miguel Arias Canete, told the European energy ministers, meeting for an informal work session in Riga on Thursday 16 April, that the Commission was tackling emergency plans at regional and EU level to respond to crises of gas supply. The plans will be unveiled in the fourth quarter of 2015.
“We are looking at all possible risks and all scenarios. We are not thinking just of Russia”, Canete said. “With solidarity between the 28 member states of the EU, we can ride out any crisis which may arise in the future”, he added.
Canete went on to say that the drafting of these plans followed on from the exercise of the stress tests on the gas system of the EU which was carried out in 2014 and the results of which were announced on 16 October. These tests showed that an extended interruption of supplies of Russian gas would have a considerable impact on the EU, particularly for the member states which are 100% dependent on Russian gas, and highlighted the need for increased cooperation between the member states (see EUROPE 11178).
Canete also explained that the emergency plans came as part of the broader framework of a revision of the rules on the security of gas supply, provided for in the strategic framework for the Energy Union, which was tabled on 25 February (see EUROPE 11262).
Lastly, Canete confirmed that in 2016, the Commission would carry out a stress test exercise for the electricity system of the EU (see EUROPE 11288). (Emmanuel Hagry)