Energy security is traditionally understood as a fundamental driving force of economic and political integration in the European Union. Since the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, coordinated energy policy has aimed to address EU’s dependency on supplies of energy (gas imports from  third countries accounted for 69.3% of total EU gas consumption in 2015). Russia supplied 42% of EU gas imports in 2016, followed by Norway (34%) and  Algeria (10%). Against the background of EU’s energy dependency and construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the Industry and Energy Committee of the European  Parliament has approved amendments of the EU gas market Directive.

EU gas market Directive has been introduced as part of the EU “Third Energy Package”  aimed to create a single EU gas and electricity market, to keep prices as low as possible and to enhance security of supply. It governs inter alia third-party access, transparency requirements, fair tariffs and proper separation  of producers from distributors in the gas supply chain. Pursuant to the amended EU gas market Directive, all gas pipelines from third countries into the EU would have comply fully with EU gas market rules on EU territory and any exceptions must be strictly time-limited. In addition, the Industry and  Energy Committee of the European Parliament tightened up the conditions to be met before an exception is granted including: a 5-year maximum fixed  time-limit for exemptions, increased involvement of the EU Commission, and  involvement of member states whose markets could be affected by pipeline  infrastructure. Decision upon exceptions should take into consideration EU  restrictive measures such as economic sanctions, imposed on that third  country.

Amendments would affect gas pipelines from Russia, Norway, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia and Morocco. These pipelines would have to comply with key provisions for the creation of an internal gas market, such as the unbundling of  transmission system operators, supervision by independent regulatory  authorities, and third-party access to infrastructure. Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy Jerzy Buzek (EPP, PL), said: “Today we have ensured that our gas market will be based on a full legal clarity and consistency of existing legislation, an important step towards completion of our Energy  Union. This compliance is a precondition for our energy security and  independence - all the more important that EU’s dependence on gas imports is constantly growing.”