WRITTEN QUESTION E-3056/03 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission. Measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply.
Date: 2003-10-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, Netherlands, consultation procedure, drafting of EU law, energy supply, natural gas, proposal (EU), security of supply

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/207

The Green Diplomacy initiative has reinforced information exchange and co-ordination. Throughout the
past two years there has been good co-ordination between the Commission and the Member States. Many
statements by Russian representatives have testified to their good appreciation of the global and national
advantages to be derived from ratification. Some more negative opinions have also been expressed from
time to time as the debate has continued. The Commission is confident that Russia will proceed with the
ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in a timely manner. The Union, as well as the other Parties having
ratified the Kyoto Protocol, should continue to encourage Russia in this direction.

In order to do so, the Union is regularly discussing with Russian counterparts the advantages that the
Kyoto Protocol could bring. To this end, seminars, workshops, visits and other activities are regularly
organised.

The Kyoto Protocol will not enter into force until Russia ratifies. But, as far as the Union is
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concerned, the implementation of policies and measures to comply with the commitments under the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, including the Union
emission trading scheme (ETS), will continue as planned, as most of these measures are internal measures
of the Union. The Union together with the nearly 120 other Parties that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol
will in fact proceed with immediate implementation. It is essential for the Union to pursue this line as this
is an indication of political leadership and a confirmation to the other Parties that the Union takes its
commitments very seriously.

Credits from Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) will exist as of the
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entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. The Commission has recently proposed to link JI and CDM credits
to the Union emissions trading scheme so as to allow companies to use these credits for compliance with
the obligations under the Union emissions trading scheme.

As the Commission expects Russia to ratify, it sees for the time being no need for any further measures to
be taken in this respect.

(2004/C 70 E/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3056/03

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission

(17 October 2003)

Subject: Measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply

On 23 September 2003 Parliament voted on the Commission proposals concerning measures to safeguard
security of natural gas supply and security of supply for petroleum products. By means of both proposals
the Commission is endeavouring to strengthen control over these energy sources. Parliament voted by an
absolute majority to refer the proposal concerning security of supply for petroleum products back to the
Commission and adopted substantial amendments to the proposal on measures to safeguard security of
natural gas supply.

Can the Commission state how the Netherlands were consulted during the process of drafting the

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proposal on gas supply?

Can the Commission state how the fundamental interests of the Netherlands, the EU’s largest natural

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gas producer, were taken into account in the proposal concerning natural gas supply?

Given the substantial similarities between the two proposals, does the Commission intend to

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withdraw both following the vote in Parliament?

C 70 E/208

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(24 November 2003)

The Netherlands have been consulted in the same manner as all Member States. Moreover, a number of
bilateral meetings between the Commission and industry representatives at various levels took place,
in order to discuss relevant matters of security of supply. Papers issued by the European gas industry have
been fully taken into account, when conceiving the proposal.

The Commission has to protect the fundamental interests of the Community taking into account the
principle of subsidiarity, as laid down in the Treaty establishing the European Communities. Beyond that,
the Commission is always striving for taking account of national circumstances prevailing in Member
States. This goes for the Netherlands, one of the largest Union gas producer, too.

The proposal for a Directive concerning measures safeguarding security of gas supply (1) calls for:

(cid:1) definition of roles and responsibilities of market participants in the new, unbundled and competitive

environment of a competitive natural gas market;

(cid:1) setting up of minimum standards for certain customers;

(cid:1) introduction of a safety net for long-term contracts;

(cid:1) setting up a solidarity mechanism for extraordinary gas supply situations (major supply disruption).

This has to be seen against the background that in a competitive and well functioning natural gas market,
the level of security of gas supply might be reduced due to increased competition among gas suppliers.
While large consumers of natural gas usually define themselves that level of security of supply they
consider most appropriate to their needs, small consumers (household, small commercial and public
entities without fuel switching capabilities) are not able to do.

In the long-term, the security of supply of the Union will more and more depend on imports from external
suppliers. These imports will come from more distant regions and entail more risks.

In order to overcome these problems a common framework is needed to ensure the security of gas supply
in a competitive natural gas market and in the long term.

For these reasons, the similarities between the two proposals are limited.

(1) OJ C 331 E, 31.12.2002.

(2004/C 70 E/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3065/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 October 2003)

Subject: Discrimination against women

Article 6 of an employment contract for the recruitment of 44 agronomists by the ELGA Greek Farmers’
Insurance Organisation which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, states that ‘in case of a
female employee becoming pregnant, and by the very nature of evaluation activities, thus prevented from
carrying out her duties, her employment contract shall be suspended with the option of resuming her
employment after the end of her maternity leave, subject to the needs of the service’. This provision of the
employment contract is an outright violation of the principle of equal treatment between men and women,
the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Community law as embodied in Directives 76/207/EEC (1) and 86/613/
EEC (2) and the case law established by the European Court of Justice.