Regulation (EU) 2022/1032

What it is

to lay down safeguard measures concerning the security of gas supply with new obligations for Member States on gas storage and access to natural gas transmissions. PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: the EU is faced with potential threats to the security of gas supply, mainly linked to its dependence for primary energy from third countries. The escalation of the armed conflict in Ukraine since February 2022 has led to unprecedented price increases. These price increases are likely to fundamentally change the incentives to fill storage facilities in the Union. The European Parliament decided by 516 votes to 25, with 15 abstentions, to refer the matter back to the committee responsible for interinstitutional negotiations on the basis of the unamended proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply and Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks The decision was adopted pursuant to Article 59(4), fourth subparagraph , of the Rules of Procedure. The European Parliament adopted by 490 votes to 47, with 55 abstentions a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply and Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on conditions for access to natural gas transmission networks. The proposal amends two existing regulations concerning security of natural gas supply and access to natural gas transmission networks. It aims to ensure that a mandatory minimum level of gas in storage to safeguard the supply before the winter of 2022/2023 and for the following winter periods. The European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amends the Commission's proposal as follows: The Regulation provides that underground gas storage on Member States’ territory must be filled to at least 80% of their capacity before the winter of 2022/2023 and to 90% before the following winter periods. Overall, the EU will attempt collectively to fill 85% of the total underground gas storage capacity in the EU in 2022. Member States should take into account the objective of ensuring security of gas supply in the Union. The text encourages EU countries to diversify their sources of gas supply and to take more measures to promote energy efficiency. To reflect the situation of Member States with very large storage capacities compared to their domestic gas consumption, the filling obligation for underground stocks will be limited to a volume corresponding to 35% of the average annual gas consumption of member states over the last five years.…

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