In two separate votes on Thursday 13 October, the European Parliament’s energy committee backed and reinforced two draft legislative projects unveiled by the European Commission in February as part of a gas security package (see EUROPE 11491) – a regional security mechanism for gas supplies, and a compulsory prior European Commission consultation mechanism for the member states before the signing of any intergovernmental agreement (IGA) on energy with a non-EU country.
By 55 to 4 with 2 abstentions, the MEPs gave approval to a report prepared by Jerzy Buzek (EPP, Poland) amending the draft review of a 2010 regulation on security of gas supplies which foresees new rules to allow member states to call on other member states for gas supplies in the event of emergencies.
To this end, the MEPs supported a plan to set up seven cross-border cooperation regions connected by European gas supply corridors in order to help member states alleviate the impact of any interruptions in gas supplies.
The MEPs also supported extra transparency measures for gas supply contracts of longer than a year, including gas prices, which will need to be automatically notified by gas companies to the Commission and member states .
MEPs welcomed the idea that the Commission might consider launching proceedings under EU competition law if it believes that gas supply measures might damage measures to ensure constant gas pressure in the EU.
The energy committee also endorsed a report prepared by Zdzisław Krasnodebski (ECR, Poland) on the draft review of the 2012 decision on transparency of IGAs among EU member states and non-EU countries in the energy domain, which foresees the establishment of a prior European Commission consultation mechanism by the member states before signing any agreement of this nature.
The MEPs say that member states should involve the Commission when preparing to negotiate with a non-EU country, or actually negotiating with it, over contracts for the supply, sale, purchase, transit, storage of supply of gas in or to at least one member state, including contracts for building or running related energy infrastructure involving at least one member state.
The MEPs say that without restricting member states’ freedom to negotiate, the Commission must advise national governments to ensure any negotiated IGA complies with EU law.
The energy committee endorsed a negotiating mandate for MEPs to enter talks with the Council on these two key items of legislation. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)