Directive 2004/67 - Measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply - Main contents

official title

 

Legal instrument	Directive
Number legal act	Directive 2004/67
Original proposal	COM(2002)488
CELEX number i	32004L0067

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Council Directive 2004/67/EC of 26 April 2004 concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply (Text with EEA relevance)

Official Journal L 127 , 29/04/2004 P. 0092 - 0096

Council Directive 2004/67/EC

of 26 April 2004

concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof,

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

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

After consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(3),

Whereas:

• (1) 

  Natural gas (gas) is becoming an increasingly important component in Community energy supply, and, as indicated in the Green Paper "Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply", the European Union is expected in the longer term to become increasingly dependent on gas imported from non-EU sources of supply.

• (2) 

  Following Directive 98/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas(4) and Directive 2003/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2003 concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas and repealing Directive 98/30/EC(5), the Community gas market is being liberalised. Consequently, regarding security of supply, any difficulty having the effect of reducing gas supply could cause serious disturbances in the economic activity of the Community; for this reason, there is a growing need to ensure security of gas supply.

• (3) 

  The completion of the internal gas market necessitates a minimum common approach to security of supply, in particular through transparent and non-discriminatory security of supply policies compatible with the requirements of such a market, in order to avoid market distortions. Definition of clear roles and responsibilities of all market players is therefore crucial in safeguarding security of gas supply and the well-functioning of the internal market.

• (4) 

  Security of supply obligations imposed on companies should not impede the well functioning of the internal market and should not impose unreasonable and disproportionate burden on gas market players, including new market entrants and small market players.

• (5) 

  In view of the growing gas market in the Community, it is important that the security of gas supply is maintained, in particular as regards household customers.

• (6) 

  A large choice of instruments are available for the industry and, if appropriate, for Member States, to comply with the security of supply obligations. Bilateral agreements between Member States could be one of the means to contribute to the achievement of the minimum security of supply standards, having due regard to the Treaty and secondary legislation, in particular Article 3(2) of Directive 2003/55/EC.

• (7) 

  Indicative minimum targets for gas storage could be set either at national level or by the industry. It is understood that this should not create any additional investment obligations.

• (8) 

  Considering the importance of securing gas supply, i.e. on the basis of long-term contracts, the Commission should monitor the developments on the gas market on the basis of reports from Member States.

• (9) 

  In order to meet growing demand for gas and diversify gas supplies as a condition for a competitive internal gas market, the Community will need to mobilise significant additional volumes of gas over the coming decades much of which will have to come from distant sources and transported over long distances.

• (10) 

  The Community has a strong common interest with gas supplying and transit countries...

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