About: security of supply
Gas market liberalisation: An unsung EU success story?
The liberalisation of European gas markets is widely recognised as a major success by industry analysts. But EU politicians are reluctant to celebrate it because liberalisation on its own has failed to deliver on another key objective – supply diversification. Ironically, Europe is now more dependent on Russian gas than ever.
EU nations agree to let European Commission vet gas, oil deals
EU nations agreed yesterday (7 December) to allow the European Commission to vet their oil and gas deals with third countries like Russia to guard against anti-competitive practices and supply disruptions.
EU countries near compromise on countering Russian gas supply risks
EU nations are edging toward a compromise on a proposal to guard against gas supply disruptions, agreeing to share details on contracts and cooperate across borders, the Slovak presidency said yesterday (5 December).
Member states challenge regional gas ‘solidarity’ plan
A European Commission proposal obliging EU countries to re-route gas supplies to neighbouring member states in case of severe shortages is being challenged for its excessive “rigidity” ahead of ministerial talks Monday (6 June).
Sefcovic sheds light on Nord Stream 2 negotiations
Speaking to a group of journalists yesterday (19 April), Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, in charge of the Energy Union, shed light on the ongoing negotiations to reconcile the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with EU legislation.
EU unveils plans to vet energy contracts outside bloc
The EU unveiled plans on Tuesday (16 February) to vet energy contracts that member states sign with countries outside the bloc as it seeks to cut dependence on Russian gas.![Maroš Šef?ovi? will chair the trilaterals [European Parliament]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/02/maros_sefcovic_0.jpeg)
Sefcovic tells MEPs he has a vision for EU’s Energy Union
Maroš Šef?ovi?, the Slovak Commissioner-designate for the EU’s Energy Union, successfully defended his credentials for the post yesterday (20 October) in front of two parliamentary committees. EURACTIV Slovakia reports.
‘Stress test’ measures EU’s ability to survive without Russian gas
Ahead of the 23-24 October EU summit, on Thursday (16 October), the Commission presented a first-ever analysis of the consequences of a disruption of Russian gas supplies, or even a complete halt of such imports to the Union, and neighbouring states. The result, which was not difficult to predict, is that some countries would be much more affected than others.
In Milan, Putin and Poroshenko to discuss peace, gas
A long-running dispute over natural gas supplies will be on the agenda when Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko hold talks in Italy later this week, the Kremlin said.
Regions, cities demand more ambitious climate goals
On Thursday, (9 October), members of the Committee of Regions and Covenant of Mayors urged the EU Commission to purse bolder, binding 2030 climate targets, and highlighted the role of greater cooperation at the local level, in order to insure greater security of supply, especially in Eastern Europe.
Grids alliance aims to counter renewables ‘NIMBY syndrome’
EU energy ministers have teamed up with electricity grid operators and environmental groups to counter the NIMBY syndrome on new renewable energy infrastructure builds.
Parliament approves rules to secure gas supply
The European Parliament yesterday (21 September) endorsed a new regulation to prop up Europe's preparedness to deal with gas supply crises.
Europe steps up response to gas supply crises
EU lawmakers agreed to speed up construction of new gas storage and interconnection facilities on Tuesday (13 July) in response to supply crises like those caused by the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute in 2008 and 2009.
EU agrees rules to secure gas supply
EU member state representatives approved on Friday (25 June) a compromise reached between the EU institutions on a new regulation to safeguard security of gas supplies.
Russian oil flowing to EU despite Belarus dispute
Russia said it had resumed flows of crude to refineries in Belarus but it did not clinch a deal to resolve a tense price dispute with Minsk, which had raised fears that oil supplies to European Union countries might be blocked. The Russian press reported that Minsk is threatening to cut electricity supply to the Kalingrad enlave.
EU warned on gas investment incentives
EU legislation on gas supply security has yet to set the right market obligations to ensure new infrastructure is built where it is needed, Jacques Laurelut, president of Gas Transmission Europe (GTE), told EURACTIV in an interview.
Renewed gas crisis ‘likely’, says regulator
The likelihood of renewed gas supply disruptions in Europe this winter has serious implications for the image of gas in the long run, Walter Boltz, chair of Austrian energy regulator E-Control, told EURACTIV in an interview.
MEPs call for beefed-up energy security policy
MEPs yesterday (16 September) urged the European Commission to beef up the early-warning mechanisms that failed during the gas supply crisis in January.
Revised EU energy strategy to focus on supply security
Even if the EU is successful in building a low-carbon economy with a strong portfolio of renewables, dependence on energy imports will remain high and requires "management", according to a draft of the European Commission's second strategic energy review seen by EURACTIV.
Gas prices to remain high, investment needed, says IEA
Soaring demand, high oil prices and a "delayed supply response" from exporting countries have driven up natural gas prices in the past 18 months, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), which warns that the situation is unlikely to improve in the short term.
Business and Commission in plea for Nabucco pipeline
Top officials at the Commission and one of Central Europe's largest oil and gas groups yesterday (2 July) called for progress to be made on the Nabucco project, which aims to reduce Europe's dependency on Russian gas supplies. But they warned that its realisation would depend on "foreign policy scenarios".
Gazprom looms large on EU’s gas supply horizon
Russian energy giant Gazprom has secured further pipeline deals with individual EU member states and announced its ambition to move into the UK market this week, casting further doubts over the EU's ambition to "speak with one voice" on external energy matters.