On Friday 6 October, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, hailed the “excellent results” of the European energy platform for the third time in a row. The Aggregate EU platform (see EUROPE 13169/5), launched in 2022, enables companies to pool their gas purchases and aims to guarantee stable supplies at competitive prices while strengthening the EU’s energy security, thereby reducing dependence on Russian gas.
In the third call, launched on 21 September, 39 companies expressed interest, representing a total demand of 16.49 billion cubic metres. The international suppliers approached from 3 to 4 October (see EUROPE 13263/28) offered 18.1 billion cubic metres, up from 15.19 billion in the previous call (see EUROPE 13222/21).
As Maroš Šefčovič pointed out, the platform generated a supply of 50 billion cubic metres over the three calls, with demand of more than 34 billion, demonstrating its ability to meet the RepowerEU strategy.
In the light of this success, Mr Šefčovič once again called for this model to be perpetuated, considering it essential to both the EU’s “strategic autonomy” and its “green transition”. However, despite Parliament’s support, the Member States remain reserved on this point during the inter-institutional negotiations on the ‘Gas Package’ (see EUROPE 13260/5). When asked about this, Maroš Šefčovič suggested adapting the initiative to hydrogen “based, of course, on a voluntary mechanism”.
Two further calls are planned between now and the end of 2023. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)