20/03/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 18 March, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy approved the text for the new directive on common EU rules for the internal market in natural gas (see EUROPE 12199/25). The report by Jerzy Buzek (EPP, Poland) on this issue was adopted with 33 votes in favour, 8 against and 4 abstentions. The text, which has yet to be approved by the European Parliament plenary and the Council of the EU, aims to extend the application of EU gas market rules to pipelines to and from non-Member States. The aim is also to supervise the controversial Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. (LC)