Members of
the European Parliament’s Energy Committee agreed on March 21 that EU gas
market rules must apply to all pipelines entering or leaving the bloc, with
only occasional strictly limited exceptions.
According
to the European Parliament, amendments to the EU gas market Directive say all
gas pipelines from third countries must fully comply fully with European gas
market rules while operating within the EU.
The
Industry and Energy Committee (ITRE) approved the amendments on March 21, by 41
votes to 13 with 9 abstentions. Any exceptions must be strictly time-limited,
and the EU Commission and the Member States affected must be involved in
deciding the individual cases where the limitations do not apply, MEPs said.
These EU
“Third Energy Package” rules govern, inter alia, third-party access,
transparency requirements, fair tariffs, and proper separation of producers
from distributors in the gas supply chain, the EP said.
More
specifically, gas pipelines from Russia, including Nord Stream 2, Norway,
Algeria, Libya, Tunisia and Morocco must comply with key provisions for the
creation of an internal gas market, such as the unbundling of transmission
system operators (TSOs), supervision by independent regulatory authorities, and
third party access to infrastructure, MEPs said.
The MEPs
also tightened the conditions that must be met before exceptions can be made to
gas market rules, such as derogations for existing pipelines or exemptions for
yet to be built ones, the EP said. These impose a 5-year maximum fixed time
limit for exemptions; increase EU Commission involvement in deciding
derogations; involve the Member States whose markets could be affected by
pipeline infrastructure, as well as the authorities of the relevant third
country, in deciding derogations and exemptions.
The
committee also amended the proposal to say that, when deciding upon exemptions
for new pipelines entering the EU, the Commission should consider any EU
restrictive measures, such as economic sanctions, imposed on a third country.
“Today we
have ensured that our gas market will be based on a full legal clarity and
consistency of existing legislation, an important step towards completion of
our Energy Union,” said rapporteur, Polish MEP Jerzy Buzek. “This compliance is
a precondition for our energy security and independence – all the more
important that EU’s dependence on gas imports is constantly growing. I am
looking forward to commencing and hopefully concluding inter-institutional
negotiations under the Bulgarian Presidency – who stands a chance to leave a
legacy in the energy field,” Buzek added.
MEPs can
start negotiations with EU ministers once the Parliament has approved a mandate
at its April 16-19 plenary session in Strasbourg, and the Council has agreed
its own approach on the file.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/eye-russia-meps-strengthen-eu-gas-pipeline-rules/