COMMON POSITION (EC) No 13/97 adopted by the Council on 27 January 1997 with a view to adopting European Parliament and Council Decision No . . ./97/EC of . . ., amending Decision No 1254/96/EC laying down a series of guidelines on trans-European energy networks (97/C 111/03)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first paragraph of Article 129d thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (4),

Whereas the list of projects of common interest needs to be updated periodically in line with developments in interconnected energy networks both inside and outside the European Community and in the light of the process of enlargement and, more generally, the strengthening of energy links with third countries,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The projects listed in the Annex to this Decision shall be added to the indicative list of projects of common interest contained in the Annex to European Parliament and Council Decision No 1254/96/EC of 5 June 1996 laying down a series of guidelines on trans-European energy networks (5).

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, . . .

For the European Parliament

The President

For the Council

The President

(1) OJ No C 298, 9. 10. 1996, p. 10.

(2) OJ No C 30, 30. 1. 1997, p. 114.

(3) Opinion of 16 January 1997 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 12 November 1996 (OJ No C 362, 2. 12. 1996, p. 29), Council common position of 27 January 1997 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Decision of the European Parliament of . . . (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(5) OJ No L 161, 29. 6. 1996, p. 147.

ANNEX

TRANS-EUROPEAN ENERGY NETWORKS

PROJECTS TO BE ADDED (1) TO THE INDICATIVE LIST OF PROJECTS OF COMMON INTEREST ANNEXED TO DECISION No 1254/96/EC

ELECTRICITY NETWORKS

(a) Connection of isolated electricity networks to European interconnected networks

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(b) Development of interconnections between Member States

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(c) Development of internal connections necessary to make the best use of interconnections between Member States

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(d) Development of interconnections with third countries in Europe and the Mediterranean region helping to improve the reliability, security and supply of Community electricity networks

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GAS NETWORKS

(e) Introduction of natural gas into new regions

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(f) Connection of isolated gas networks to European interconnected networks, including the necessary improvement of the existing networks, and connection of separate natural gas networks

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(g) Increasing reception (LNG) and storage capacities necessary to satisfy demand, and diversification of supply sources and routes for natural gas

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(h) Increasing transmission capacity (gas delivery pipelines) necessary to meet demand and diversification of supply sources and routes for natural gas

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(1) This Decision is without prejudice to the assessment of the environmental impact of the projects.

STATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S REASONS

I. INTRODUCTION

1. On 25 July 1996, the Commission forwarded to the Council a proposal, based on the first paragraph of Article 129d of the EC Treaty, for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending European Parliament and Council Decision No 1254/96/EC laying down a series of guidelines on trans-European energy networks (1).

2. The European Parliament delivered its opinion at first reading on 12 November 1996. The Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions delivered their opinions on 25 September 1996 and 16 January 1997 respectively.

3. At its meeting on 27 January 1997, the Council adopted its common position pursuant to Article 189b of the Treaty.

II. OBJECTIVES

4. The proposal for a Decision aims at updating the indicative list of projects of common interest attached to European Parliament and Council Decision No 1254/96/EC laying down a series of guidelines on trans-European networks by adding projects which have since reached an advanced stage of development and meet the criteria laid down in that decision.

III. ANALYSIS OF THE COMMON POSITION

5. The Council followed the opinion of the European Parliament which approved the Commission proposal without amendment by adopting the text of the Commission proposal unchanged as its common position.

(1) OJ No L 161, 29. 6. 1996, p. 147.