EU countries want to extend the rule for full gas storage

Brussels (dpa) – The EU countries want to maintain the obligation to fill their gas storage facilities until the end of 2027. Specifically, it is about keeping a regulation in place that requires the storage facilities to be at least 90 percent full at a certain point in time by the end of 2027, the countries announced. In the case of “unfavorable market conditions,” such as market manipulations, member states should be allowed to deviate from the filling target by up to ten percent. 

The position of the states is based on a proposal from the EU Commission, which stated that the 90 percent target should be reached by November 1 at the latest. Here, the member countries want more flexibility. The target should therefore be achieved between October 1 and December 1. In order for the rules to come into effect, a compromise with the EU Parliament still needs to be negotiated.

The gas storage regulation was enacted in mid-2022 and aimed to ensure the gas supply of the EU. According to EU countries, the regulation has improved supply security in Europe during the energy crisis triggered by Russia’s war of aggression. (April 11)