On 2 July, the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union tabled a compromise proposal on the recitals of the text of the agreement between the Member States on the revision of the EU Regulation (347/2013) on Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E).
Due to time constraints, these recitals were left aside during the Portuguese Presidency of the Council, in order to focus the discussions on the body of the text of the proposed revision of the TEN-E Regulation. Thus, the political agreement (‘general approach’) reached on 11 June does not cover the entire revision proposal (see EUROPE 12739/1).
In line with the text on which the Member States have agreed, the Slovenian document obtained by EUROPE notably proposes new recitals relating to infrastructure projects relating to the blending of hydrogen with natural gas. Despite the reluctance of many Member States, the EU Council had indeed agreed to include such projects in the scope of the revised Regulation, but for a transitional period.
“Whereas the repurposing of the natural gas infrastructure aims to decarbonise the gas networks, allowing dedicated use of pure hydrogen, a transitional period could allow for transport or storage of a pre-defined blend of hydrogen with natural gas or biomethane”, the document states.
Ljubljana also proposes a new recital to underline the derogation related to Cyprus and Malta in the general approach. According to the latter, projects under development or planning in these countries, which have been granted the status of project of common interest (PCI) under the current TEN-E Regulation, will retain this status until the interconnection of these island states to the trans-European energy networks is completed.
The Slovenian paper will be discussed by Member States’ experts on 8 July at a meeting of the Council’s Energy Working Group, with a view to its future adoption by the Member States’ ambassadors to the EU (Coreper).
In the European Parliament, negotiations between the political groups have been delayed, leading to a postponement of the voting sessions in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the plenary session (see EUROPE 12754/24).
The Slovenian Presidency would like to start the inter-institutional negotiations (trilogues) as soon as possible in the autumn, in order to conclude them before the end of the year.
See the Slovenian Presidency document: https://bit.ly/2Vgonjo (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)