The European Parliament’s Industry Committee has proposed a strenthening of gas crisis prevention measures, laying down new requirements for plans to offset any serious disruptions to gas supplies from third countries.
The draft EU regulation aims to remedy a lack of co-ordination and interconnected infrastructure among EU Member States. The proposal was prompted by the 2008 and 2009 gas crises, when supplies of Russian gas through Ukraine to the EU were disrupted by disputes between Moscow and Kiev.
EU Member States will need to ensure that even if their biggest gas infrastructure fails, the remaining infrastructure (N-1) is capable of meeting total daily gas demand on a day of “exceptionally high demand” (which, statistically, happens once every 20 years). National authorities should also comply with an infrastructure standard, notably by introducing reverse flows under certain conditions, ensuring connections to the integrated EU gas network and by breaking dependence on one single third country gas supplier.
If, despite these preventive measures, an emergency does occur as a result of a serious disruption or exceptionally high demand, the EU will activate an emergency response. According to the amended version, an EU emergency response would be triggered automatically (though the circumstances are verified by the Commission) when: more than one Member State has declared a national emergency; the EU suffers a loss of more than 20% of its daily gas imports from third countries, or a Member State within a specific EU region has declared an emergency or the region as a whole suffers a loss of more than 10% of its daily gas imports from a third country. Furthermore, the Commission may declare an EU emergency when one Member State requests this.
MEPs changed the original proposal by adding a requirement that the Commission develops a long-term supply strategy. One year after the regulation enters into force, the Commission must present an assessment report.
Since the European Parliament considers the security of gas supply regulation a priority for this legislature, it is likely to seek a compromise with the Council of Ministers. The amended draft regulation was unanimously approved in the committee, with 52 votes in favour. It is likely to be put to a plenary vote at the May II session in Brussels.
