On Tuesday, the EU Council approved a gas marketplace improvement to enable the suspension of natural gas supply, including LNG, from Russia and Belarus from 2026.
The Regulation and the Directive on the interior markets in renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen approved on Tuesday stipulate in peculiar that ‘after that date (31 December 2025 – ed.) The European Commission should be able to temporarily exclude natural gas supplies from Russia and Belarus, as well as LNG from installations located (in Russia and Belarus, ed.), for up to 1 year, which may be extended in justified cases.’
Such prohibitions may be subject to "the protection of key safety or safety of supply of the EU or of a associate State".
The paper besides states that restrictions must not jeopardise the safety of gas supply to the EU marketplace and to individual associate States, respect the principles of energy solidarity and must not violate obligations towards 3rd countries.
The EU gas marketplace regulation and directive approved on Tuesday will now be signed and published in the authoritative diary of the European Union. The Regulation will enter into force six months after publication. As far as the Directive is concerned, associate States will have 2 years to adapt national law to its provisions.
Belgium has previously stated that it does not yet know whether it should refuse to import Russian liquefied natural gas after the adoption of a fresh European directive. According to the energy minister Tinne van der Straten, specified decisions can only be taken jointly under the common EU policy.
Last December, the EU Council and the European Parliament reached a preliminary agreement on a fresh regulation on the interior energy market, which sets out a number of common rules for the European marketplace for renewable energy, natural gas and hydrogen, in peculiar it was informed that these provisions would let EU countries to impose restrictions on the supply of natural gas, including LNG, from Russia and Belarus. The package of laws was approved by the European Parliament at its April plenary session this year.
The fresh rules will besides include measures to advance the introduction of renewable and low-carbon gases (hydrogen and biomethane) into the European energy marketplace and aid reduce fossil fuel consumption. It besides aims to extend the current mechanics for aggregation of supply and joint procurement of natural gas by EU countries. This mechanics does not include purchases of Russian fuel.
The bill was introduced by the European Commission in December 2021 as part of a package Fit for 55 for climate neutrality aimed at modernising EU climate and energy government to reduce Community greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and making the EU a climate neutral region by 2050.
Daniel Głogowski
Expert in his field – Publicist, author and social activist. The first articles were published in 1999 for global publishers. For more than 30 years, he has gained his experience through cooperation with the largest editorial offices. In his articles, he seeks to address controversial topics and present first viewpoints that allowed for a deeper knowing of the issues discussed.
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EU Council approved gas marketplace reform
