Brussels, 25/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - By the smallest of majorities (19 in favour, 18 against), the European Parliament's Committee on Energy decided on Tuesday not to change the legal basis of the proposed directive to ensure the security of the EU's gas supply. The Energy Council of 15 December had proposed to change the legal basis of the proposal, going from article 95 (co-decision) to article 100 (Council deciding alone by a majority of votes, with possible consultation of the Parliament. Having changed the proposal to the point of denuding it entirely of substance and any Community measure, the Council felt that the absence of provisions on the internal market justified this change of legal base (see EUROPE of 16 December, p.11). Despite support from the rapporteur, German Christian Democrat Peter Mombaur, for the Council's proposal, the parliamentary Committee rejected this change, and decide to keep co-decision. The Legal Committee of the Parliament must now pronounce itself on the issue before the Parliament rules on the legal basis issue, in March or April in Strasbourg.