Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending Decision No 1254/96/EC laying down a series of guidelines for trans-European energy networks` (1999/C 101/07)

On 23 October 1998 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under the first paragraph of Article 129d of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Trans-European Networks, Transport and Information Society, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 16 December 1998. The rapporteur was Mr Hernández Bataller.

At its 360th plenary session (meeting of 27 January 1999) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 125 votes to one, with two abstentions.

1. Introduction

1.1. This proposal updates the indicative list of projects of common interest in the energy sector as laid down originally in Decision No 1254/96/EC () and amended by Decision No 1047/97/EC ().

1.2. The proposal alters the description of four specific projects already on the list, adds twelve new projects and includes three projects which had been proposed by the Commission in its January 1994 proposal laying down guidelines for trans-European energy networks and which are now sufficiently advanced.

1.3. The proposed update includes considerably more projects connected with gas networks (14) than with electricity networks (5), highlighting the greater need to safeguard the continuity of natural gas supplies as well as the efforts being made to boost the share of this fuel in Europe's primary energy supply.

2. General comments

2.1. The Committee has welcomed all the decisions concerning the development of trans-European energy networks, although its opinions contain various comments and suggestions aimed at strengthening the legal basis, facilitating implementation and taking into account the economic and social repercussions of projects, and in particular the need to monitor constantly their impact on employment.

2.2. The Committee realizes that the indicative list of projects of common interest needs to be updated periodically on account of the rapid growth of the energy sector and the increasing need for supply, storage and interconnection infrastructure, which guarantee a high level of supply, reliability and diversification of supply sources.

2.3. The Committee therefore welcomes this proposal to update the decision, which includes a series of projects which are important for consolidating the trans-European energy networks and further safeguarding Europe's energy supplies. Furthermore, some of these projects include investment in gas transmission infrastructure in eastern European countries, which will mean closer relations between these countries and the Member States.

2.4. The Committee would suggest that it is in the interests of the Member States that the proposed decision, amended where necessary, be adopted as soon as possible.

2.5. The following comments need to be made, however, together with a few points already raised in previous opinions and not satisfactorily incorporated in this proposal:

2.5.1. The outlying and most remote regions are not dealt with adequately in the proposed list. This tends to isolate them even further from Europe's more favoured regions. On earlier occasions the Committee has stressed that, because of the difficulty or impossibility of interconnecting their internal networks with the trans-European networks and their limited diversification of supply sources, such regions are at a disadvantage compared with the central regions of Europe. It is therefore necessary to step up energy investments in these regions and thus strengthen economic and social cohesion.

2.5.2. Without prejudice to regional policy measures at Community level and in accordance with the subsidiarity principle, the operation of the internal energy market should ensure that the Member States are able to establish public service obligations to safeguard final supply to all citizens on the same terms as regards quality and price.

2.5.3. Projects involving trans-European energy networks should be particularly careful not to damage the environment. This factor is not expressly addressed in the current proposal. The Committee would like to see a more explicit reference to the importance of environmental impact assessment. At all events, respect for the environment should be a major criterion in the selection of projects, both now and in the future.

3. Specific comments

Add the following texts to the preamble:

3.1. 'Whereas the next review of this list shall give special attention to integrating the specific needs of the outlying and most remote regions of the European Union so as to ensure that the technical conditions exist for safeguarding final supply to the populace`.

3.2. 'Whereas every new project must meet the strategic environmental impact assessment criteria`.

Brussels, 27 January 1999.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI

() OJ C 195, 18.7.1994.

() OJ C 30, 30.1.1997.