16/07/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 16 July, the Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU (Coreper) adopted the extension and revision of the regulation on gas storage (see EUROPE 13669/29). Only Slovakia abstained due to references in a recital to the REPowerEU regulation aimed at phasing out Russian gas imports into the EU (see EUROPE 13681/10). “The recital has no link towards any part of the legislative text itself and goes much beyond the aim of the Regulation on gas storage. Specifically, it cannot by any means determine or exclude the source of gas supply to fulfill the obligations under this Regulation”, commented Slovakia in a statement. The regulation must now be approved by European ministers at the General Affairs Council on 18 July. To see the regulations: https://aeur.eu/f/hwa ; and Slovakia's statement: https://aeur.eu/f/hw9 (PLD)