Withdrawal by the GUE/NGL and ENF Groups of their request for a vote of confirmation by the European Parliament meeting in plenary, on Thursday 19 April, of Parliament's negotiating mandate with the Council of EU ministers was de facto confirmation of that mandate, opening the way to trialogue talks. The mandate was on the proposal for an amendment to the 2009 gas directive in order to clarify the regulatory framework for gas pipelines from third countries to the EU - thus framing the...