Five EU member states (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and Italy) proposed the revision of the rules regarding the continuation of gas supply during crisis situations, writes Bloomberg. The European Commission’s initially designed proposal focuses on reducing energy imports and on a closer regional cooperation between the member states.
“Each member state is responsible for its security of supply, and solidarity must remain a measure of last resort. […] Countries should be allowed only to seek solidarity measures if they effectively depleted all the measures provided for in their national plan for emergency and where market and price mechanisms have not been artificially suspended”, said the document rendered by Bloomberg, signed by representatives of the mentioned governments.
The introduction of the Commission’s proposal would strengthen the role of this institution in the economic and trade relations that the EU countries have with the EU external energy suppliers, a trend which seems not to please the five states mentioned.
“To further the development of policies of a better security of gas supply, we should take note of the existing forms of cooperation in the energy sector and to consider the best practices. This approach should also remain in line with the established roles of the EU institutions”, shows the document containing the position of the five countries, consulted by Bloomberg.
Regional cooperation in crisis situations requires joined up emergency measures to continue the flow of gas, but the mentioned states want to keep a strictly national responsibility of those measures and consistent with the existing infrastructure.
“Each risk regarding the gas supply implies a different geographical area and another type of cooperation. […] The security of the supply risks cannot be treated effectively by closing each member state in a predefined format of regional cooperation. Such a rigid approach would not reflect the market realities and would unduly restrict the flexibility needed for effective cooperation and solidarity in case of a crisis”, say the representatives of the group of five states.