Proposal 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
Date: 1996-07-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: electrical energy, energy grid, natural gas, security of supply, trans-European network

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  24.07.1996 
COM(96)390  final 

96/0203 (COD) 

Proposal  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 

(presented by  the  Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

I 

1. 

2. 

II 

3. 

4. 

INTRODUCTION 

On  5  June  1996  the  European  Parliament  and 
the  Council  adopted 
Decision  No  1254/96/EC laying down a series of guidelines on trans-European 
energy  networks.1  This  Decision  contains  in  the  Annex  the  indicative  list  of 
projects  of  common  interest  in the  energy  sector. 

For a number  of reasons, to do mainly with the time that has elapsed  since the 
Commission's proposal laying down guidelines, commitments agreed during the 
discussion of the projects as part of these guidelines, due consideration in terms 
of energy  networks  of accession by  Austria, Finland  and  Sweden, the growing 
trend  towards  extending  interconnected  networks  at  European  continent  level 
and,  finally,  rapid  developments  in the market,  mainly  the natural  gas market, 
the European  Commission  feels  that  the  indicative  list  of projects  of  common 
interest  attached  to Decision  No  1254/96/EC  should  be  updated. 

NEED  TO  UPDATE  THE  LIST  OF PROJECTS  OF  COMMON  INTEREST 
IN THE ENERGY  SECTOR 

The Commission adopted its proposal laying down guidelines on trans-European 
networks  (TEN) in the energy  sector in January  19942. This proposal  reflected 
the  investigations  and  consultations  carried  out  by  the  Commission  over  the 
period  1992-93.  It  contained  a  list  of  69  projects  which  were  candidates  for 
identification  as being  of  common  interest. 

Discussions were held  in the Council  on these projects  in  1994, principally  on 
the  more  advanced  projects,  which  led  to  a  final  list  of  43  projects  being 
adopted  by  the European  Parliament  and the  Council. 

In  these  discussions  the  Council3  and  the  Commission4  expressed  their 
willingness to re-examine the projects  which  were not retained  from  the initial 
list proposed  by the Commission  once the co-decision  procedure regarding the 
guidelines  for  trans-European  energy  networks  had  been  completed. 

5. 

Accession  to the  European  Community  by  Austria,  Finland  and  Sweden  took 
effect  on  1 January  1995. Nevertheless, the list adopted by Parliament  and the 
Council  contains  only  a  limited  number  of  projects  involving  these  three 

O J N oL  161, 29.6.1996 
COM(93)685 final,  19.1.1994. 
cf.  statement  in the  Energy  Council  minutes  of November  1994. 
cf.  statement by the  Commissioner  responsible before  the EP - Plenary  session of October  1995 
-  second  reading  of the  proposal  laying  down guidelines  for  trans-European  energy  networks. 

Member States. In fact, the list contains only a few interconnection projects and 
not one internal  project for these three countries. 

The move towards interconnected energy networks at European continent level 
is on the increase,  an important stage in this development being connection to 
the  UCPTE  network  (i.e.  the  princpal  interconnected  electricity  network 
operating in the Community) of the electricity  networks of Poland,  the Czech 
Republic,  Slovakia  and Hungary  at the  end  of  1995.  Further  steps  are being 
studied, e.g.  connection to the UCPTE network of the Balkan countries and the 
establishment  of  adequate  electricity  links  (interface)  to  make  for  exchange 
between  the  (extended)  UCPTE  network  and  the  interconnected  electricity 
network  of  CIS countries. 

Finally,  the  rapid  development  of  the  market,  in  particular  in the  natural  gas 
sector, has seen new projects emerge, some of which have been quick to reach 
an advanced stage. 

Ill 

8. 

9. 

10. 

PROJECTS  SELECTED BY THE COMMISSION 

At the beginning of  1996 the Commission consulted experts from the Member 
States, from gas and electricity  companies in the Community  and from bodies 
representing  those  companies  in  order  to  complete  its  information  on  trans-
European network  projects in the energy  sector. 

The  projects  set  out below  were  selected  by  the  Commission  on the  basis  of 
this  information.  These  projects  meet  the  technical  definitions,  objectives, 
priorities and criteria set by Decision No  1254/96/EC1 laying down  guidelines 
on trans-European  energy networks. 

As regards the state of advancement,  projects were chosen  which were due to 
start being  built  over the next five years. Projects on which  construction  will 
only begin later than that should not be taken into account in this update if the 
guideline  action  on trans-European  energy  networks  is  to be  effective  and  if 
consistency  with  other  Community  objectives,  in  particular  those  of growth, 
competitiveness  and employment,  is to be ensured. 

11. 

Electricity  network projects: 

The projects are grouped  in categories a, b, c,  and d of the current indicative 
list,  which  tie  in  with  the  priorities  set  by  Decision  No  1254/96/EC1  for 
electricity  networks. 

Projects which  had already  been  proposed  by the Commission  in its proposal 
on guidelines for trans-European  energy networks2 are marked with an *. The 
other projects are new. 

3 

a.  A  project 

to  European 
interconnected  networks: United Kingdom  (connection  to the Isle  of Man). 

electricity  networks 

connecting 

isolated 

b.  Five  projects developing  interconnections  between  Member  States.  France-
(Northern  Ireland),  Austria-
Ireland-UK 

Germany*,  Spain-Portugal, 
Germany*  and  Netherlands-UK. 

c.  Five projects developing internal connections necessary to make the best use 
of interconnections between Member States: in Italy, Ireland, Spain,  Sweden 
and Germany. 

d.  Five projects developing interconnections with third countries in Europe and 
the  Mediterranean  Basin  helping  to  improve  the  reliability,  security  and 
supply  of  Community  electricity  networks: Greece-Balkan  countries*,  UK-
Norway*, Sweden-Norway, Germany-Poland* and European Union-Belarus-
Russia-Ukraine. 

12. 

Gas  network  projects: 

The projects are grouped in categories e, f,  g and h of the current indicative list, 
which  tie  in  with  the  priorities  set  by  Decision  No  1254/96/EC1  for  gas 
networks. 

Projects  which  had  already  been  proposed  by  the  Commission  in  its  proposal 
on guidelines  for  trans-European  energy  networks2 are marked  with  an  *.  The 
other projects  are  new. 

e.  A project introducing  natural  gas into new regions: construction  of  an LNG 

terminal  in  Portugal*  . 

f.  Seven projects connecting isolated gas networks to European  interconnected 
networks,  including  the  necessary  improvement  of  the  existing  networks, 
and  connection  of  separate  natural  gas  networks:  France-Spain*,  France 
(connection between the networks of the south-west and the south), Austria-
Germany,  Austria-Hungary,  Austria-Slovakia,  Austria (connection  between 
gas  pipelines  linking  Austria  to  Germany  and  Italy,  respectively)  and 
Greece-Albania. 

g.  Three projects increasing  reception  (LNG)  and storage capacities  necessary 
to  satisfy  demand  and  diversification  of  supply  sources  and  routes  for 
natural gas: France (extension of  existing underground  storage capacities)*, 
Spain  (development  of  new  underground  storage  capacities)  and  Austria 
(extension  of  an existing  underground  storage  capacity  and development  of 
a  new  underground  storage  capacity). 

h.  Four  projects  increasing  transmission  capacity  (gas  delivery  pipelines) 
necessary  to  meet  demand  and  diversification  of  supply  sources  and  routes 
for  natural  gas:  Norway-France  ("Norfrapipe"  project),  Norway-Denmark-

M 

Sweden-Finland-Russia-Baltic  States ("Nordic gas grid" project)*, Germany-
Czech Republic-Austria-Italy ("Penta" project) and Russia-Ukraine-Slovakia-
Hungary-Slovenia-Italy  ("Volta" project). 

13. 

A total  of  31  projects  were  selected  by  the  Commission,  including  nine  which 
were  already  part  of  the  Commission's  proposals  concerning  guidelines  for 
trans-European  energy  networks2. 

IV 

CONCLUSION 

14. 

To meet commitments undertaken during the discussion of the current indicative 
list  of  projects  of  common  interest  and  in  the  light  of  developments  in  trans-
European  energy  networks,  the  Commission  takes  the view  that  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 
energy  networks1  should  be  updated  by  adding  projects  which  have  since 
reached  an  advanced  stage  of  development  and  meet the  criteria  laid  down  in 
that Decision. 

15. 

This  is  the  purpose  of  the  attached  proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and 
Council  Decision,  the  legal  basis  for which  is  Article  129d, first paragraph,  of 
the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community. 

S~ 

Proposal  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  networks1 

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,  2 

Having  regard to  the  opinion  of  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee,3 

Having  regard to  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  of  the Regions,  4 

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

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

OJ No L  161, 29.6.1996 

6 

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 laying down a series of guidelines on trans-European 
energy networks1. 

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. 

This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 

Article 3 

Done at Brussels, ... 

For the European Parliament 

For the Council 

The President 

The President 

OJ No L  161, 29.6.1996 

* 

TRANS-EUROPEAN  ENERGY  NETWORKS  : 

Projects  to be added 

to the 

indicative list  of  projects  of  common  interest  annexed  to decision  N* 1254/96/EC2 

ANNEX 

ELECTRICITY  NETWORKS 

a) 

Connection  of isolated electricity networks  to European  interconnected networks 

a7 

United Kingdom  : 

connection  by  submarine  cable  of the Isle  of Man 

b) 

Development of interconnections  between Member States 

b5 

France-Germany  : 

strengthening  of  the  connections  between  the  two 
countries. 

b 10(a)  Spain-Portugal  : 

new  connection  between  the  two  countries  through 
the Southern  region  of Portugal  and the  South-West 
of  Spain. 

b 13 

Ireland-United  Kingdom 
(Northern  Ireland)  : 

strengthening  of connections  between 
Ireland  and  Northern  Ireland. 

bl4  Austria-Germany  : 

strengthening  of  the  connections  between  the  two 
countries. 

bl5  Netherlands-United  Kingdom  :  connection  by  submarine  cable  between  south 

eastern  England  and  central  Netherlands. 

c) 

Development  of  internal  connections  necessary  to  make  the  best  use  of 
interconnections between Member States. 

c5(a) 

Italy  : 

strengthening and development of connections on the 
East-West  axis  in  the  North-West  of  the  country 
and  on  the  North-South  axis  in  the  centre  of  the 
country. 

This decision is without prejudice to the assessment of the environmental impact of the projects. 

2 

. 

Decision n  1254/96/EC of the European Parliament and the Council laying down a series of guidelines 
for trans-European energy networks, O.J.E.C. N° L 161, 29/06/1996. 

C 
% 

c9 

Ireland: 

clO 

Spain: 

e ll 

Sweden: 

cl2  Germany 

strengthening  of  connections  in  the  North-Wesl  of 
the  country. 

strengthening  and development  of connections in the 
North-East  and West  of  the country,  in  particular to 
connect  to  the  network  production  capacities  of 
electricity  generated  from  wind-power. 

strengthening 
connections. 

and 

development 

of 

internal 

development  of  connections  in  the  North  of  the 
country. 

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. 

d2 

Germany-Poland  : 

strengthening  of  the  connections  between  the  two 
countries. 

d8 

Greece-Balkan  countries: 

dlO  United  Kingdom  -  Norway 

strengthening  of  connections  between  Greece  and, 
respectively,  Albania,  Bulgaria  and  ex-Yugoslavia, 
including the restoration  of the connections  with  the 
North  of  ex-Yugoslavia  and the  UCPTE  network. 

connection  by  submarine  cable  between  the  North 
southern  Norway 
eastern/eastern  England  and 
(NORDEL). 

dl5 

Sweden-Norway  : 

strengthening  of  the  connections  between  the  two 
countries. 

d 16  EU-Belarus-Russia-Ukraine: 

development  of  connections  and  interface  between 
the (extended)  UCPTE network and  the networks of 
third  countries  in  Eastern  Europe,  including  the 
relocation  of 
stations 
operating  previously  between  Austria  and  Hungary, 
Austria  and  the  Czech  Republic  and  Germany  and 
the  Czech  Republic. 

the  HVDC3  conversion 

HVDC : High Voltage Direct Current 

<2» 

GAS  NETWORKS 

e) 

Introduction  of  natural  gas  into  new  regions. 

e5a 

Portugal 

construction  of  an  LNG  terminal  on  the  Atlantic 
coast. 

f) 

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

f5 

France-Spain: 

f7 

France: 

strengthening  of  transport capacity  between  the  two 
countries. 

connection  of the networks of the South-West and of 
the  South  of  the  country. 

fB 

Austria-Germany: 

strengthening  of  transport  capacity  between  Austria 
and Bavaria. 

f9 

Austria-Hungary 

connection  between 
countries. 

the  networks  of  the  two 

f!0 

Austria-Slovakia: 

connection  of  Austria  to  underground  storage  in 
Slovakia. 

f 11 

Austria: 

connection  between  gas pipelines  linking  Austria to, 
respectively,  Germany  and  Italy. 

fl2 

Greece-Albania : 

connection  between 
countries. 

the  networks  of  the  two 

g) 

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

g7 

France: 

g8(a)  Spain: 

extension  of  underground  storage  capacities  in  the 
South-West  of  the  country. 

development  of  underground  storage  capacities  on 
the  Mediterranean  axis. 

g 13  Austria : 

extension  and  development  of  underground  storage 
capacities. 

.A$y 

h) 

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

h 1 

Norway-France : 

construction  of  a 4th  gas pipeline  from  Norwegian 
resources (North  Sea) to the Continent. 

h3 

Norway-Denmark-Sweden-
Finland-Russia-Baltic  States 

creation and development  of connections between 
the  networks  of  these  countries  with  a  view  to 
setting up an integrated gas network. 

hl3  Germany-Czech Republic-

Austria-Italy : 

construction of  a system  of connecting 
pipelines between the German, Czech,  Austrian and 
Italian gas networks. 

h 14  Russia-Ukraine-Slovakia-
Hungary-Slovenia-Italy : 

construction  of a new gas pipeline, 
from  Russian resources, to Italy. 

M 

BSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 390  final 

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ISBN 92-78-07424-1 

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