Tuesday 21 September 2010

P7_TC1-COD(2009)0108

Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 21 September 2010 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) No …/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning measures to safeguard security of gas supply and repealing Council Directive 2004/67/EC

(As an agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position corresponds to the final legislative act, Regulation (EU) No 994/2010)

Tuesday 21 September 2010

ANNEX

Commission Statement on long term security of supply measures including diversification of gas supply sources and routes, regional cooperation and international cooperation in energy efficiency

The Commission underlines that the diversification of gas supply sources and routes for the Union is essential to improve the security of gas supply of the individual Member States and the Union as a whole.

Recognizing the need to develop a long term security of supply strategy, the Commission will adopt by end of 2010 a comprehensive Energy Infrastructure Package assessing the priorities for the development of gas infrastructures in the coming decades and the progress achieved on the priorities identified in the Second Strategic Energy Review. The Energy Infrastructure Package will identify the instruments and measures to provide incentives for investments in gas infrastructures, in particular including the diversification of supply routes, integration of ‘gas islands’, facilities for liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as storage capacities.

The Commission also supports the close cooperation of all stakeholders at all levels – the Member States, the independent Regulators, the gas industry and the consumers – within the regional initiatives. In 2010 the Commission will issue a Communication on the regional initiatives to provide guidance how to best achieve the progress and further develop existing regional cooperation initiatives. Close regional cooperation is crucial to achieve fully functioning internal energy market. The Communication on regional initiatives will make proposals as to common goals and best practices.

Finally, the Commission recognises that energy efficiency plays an important role in ensuring long term energy security. The Commission will continue to develop a close cooperation with third countries to promote energy efficiency through the exchange of information on the energy savings strategies, research on energy efficient technologies and sharing the best practices, through the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation and through bilateral arrangements.

Commission Statement on competition with respect to recital 45

The Commission considers that the reference in recital 45 to distortions of competition covers all forms of restriction of competition, including in particular restrictive clauses of contracts, for example destination clauses.

The Commission also confirms that the application of article 101 of the TFEU to the conditions referred in recital 45 will be carried out where appropriate by the Commission or by one or more of the competent competition authorities of the Member States, in line with the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty (1).

(1) OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1.