05/12/23 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 4 December, the European Commission launched the fourth call for tenders for the joint purchase of gas under the EU energy platform, inviting international suppliers to submit bids for gas deliveries between January 2024 and March 2025 (see EUROPE 13299/37). Between 23 and 28 November, European companies recorded a total volume of 10.06 billion m³ of gas purchase requirements on the AggregateEU mechanism. “This level of cumulative demand shows the continuing interest of European companies in this common EU mechanism, which aims to make energy supplies secure and affordable”, according to a European Commission press release. This mechanism, set up after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, aims to secure and diversify the energy supplies of EU Member States, by excluding Russian companies from participation. (PLD)