The EU Council of Ministers adopted, on Monday 15 April, the text of the new gas directive to extend EU rules to pipelines to and from third countries (see EUROPE 12229/6). Only Bulgaria abstained from voting.
The overall objective of the amendment to the gas directive is to ensure that the rules governing the EU’s internal gas market apply to gas transmission lines between a Member State and a third country, up to the border of the Member State’s territory and territorial sea. The text thus aims to provide a framework for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
Key elements of the EU gas market rules, which are set out in the so-called gas directive from 2009, include ownership unbundling, third-party access, non-discriminatory tariffs and transparency requirements.
The amendment adopted provides for the possibility of derogations for existing pipelines to and from third countries, as well as clear procedures for negotiations with third countries and for exemptions regarding new pipelines.
The new directive will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member States will have nine months from entry into force to transpose the new rules into national law. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)