COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 23.11.1995 
COM(95) 577final 
94/0009(COD) 
OPINION OF THE COMMISSION 
pursuant to Article 189 b (2) (d) of the EC Treaty, 
on the European Parliament's amendments 
to the Council's common position regarding the 
proposal for a 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 
laying down a series of guidelines on trans-European energy networks 
AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION 
pursuant to Article 189 a (2) of the EC Treaty 

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION 
1 BACKGROUND 
8 February 1994: 
27 April 1994: 
17 May 1994: 
18 May 1995: 
29 May 1995: 
29 June 1995: 
26 October 1995: Transmission of the initial proposal COM (93) 685 to the 
European Parliament and the Council. 
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee. 
Opinion of the Committee of the Regions. 
European Parliament's opinion on first reading. 
Transmission of the amended proposal COM (95) 226. 
Adoption by the Council of its common position. 
European Parliament's opinion on second reading. 
2 PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSAL 
The proposal lays down a series of guidelines for the future development of trans-
European electricity and natural gas networks, as provided for by the first indent of 
Article 129c(l) of the Treaty. 
The proposed guidelines cover the scope, objectives, priorities and broad lines of action 
by the Community on trans-European energy networks. They also identify projects of 
common interest for the trans-European electricity and natural gas networks. 
3. COMMENTS ON PARLIAMENT'S SECOND READING 
Parliament adopted five amendments to the Council's common position on its second 
reading. It had also adopted the same amendments, in whole or in part, on first reading. 
The Commission's position on these amendments is as follows: 
• Amendment No 1 : accepted. 
This amendment adds a new recital which clarifies the criteria for optimum siting 
of the projects. It is based on the idea that the solutions adopted for the energy 
links must be the most advantageous from the economic point of view and have 
the smallest impact on the environment. 
• Amendment No 2: rejected. The objectives are: 
(a) Introduction of a type I committee 
The Commission maintains its position in favour of a type Ha committee 
(management committee), which is better suited to the tasks assigned. 
(b) Addition to the provisions on the committee procedure of rules calling for 
consultation of Parliament on the measures submitted to the committee. 
Consultation of Parliament is, in essence, acceptable to the Commission. 
However, the Commission considers that the modus vivendi explicitly 
referred to in the twelfth recital in the common position guarantees such 
consultation and that there is therefore no need to change the standard 
committee procedure clauses. 
• Amendment No 3: withdrawn by Parliament (for the record). 
• Amendment No 6: rejected. 
This amendment provides for systematic use of the co-decision procedure for 
updating the list of projects of common interest. The Commission considers this 
procedure too long in comparison with the flexibility required for this operation. 
Consultation of Parliament on updating of the list is ensured by the modus vivendi 
in any case. 
• Amendment No 4: accepted. 
This amendment gives fuller details of the Baltic ring project on interconnection 
of the electricity networks. According to the Commission's information, this fuller 
description corresponds to the project being considered. 
• Amendment No 5: rejected. 
This amendment is intended to add the inter-Nordic and Baltic gas network to the 
list of projects of common interest. According to the Commission's information, 
this project is not yet sufficiently advanced. 
4 CONCLUSIONS 
The Commission accepts amendments No 1 and 4, as adopted by Parliament on second 
reading. 
The Commission had already included amendment No 1 in its amended proposal. 
Amendment No 4 was not included in the Commission's amended proposal. 
Consequently, the Commission adds the following to its proposal, as amended after the 
first reading: 
• Add to the Annex on "Trans-European energy networks - Indicative list of 
projects of common interest": 
"d.14 Baltic ring: Germany, Poland, Russia (Baltic regions), Estonia, Latvia, 
Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Belarus." 
* * * 
Amended proposal for a 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 
laying down a series of guidelines on trans-European 
energy networks. 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 A(2) 
of the EC Treaty) 
y 
The Commission adds the following to its proposal, as amended after the first reading 
(COM (95) 226): 
• Add to the Annex on "Trans-European energy networks - Indicative list of 
projects of common interest": 
"d.14 Baltic ring: Germany, Poland, Russia (Baltic regions), Estonia, Latvia, 
Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Belarus." 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(95) 577 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 12 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-615-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-96346-8 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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