12 Amendments of Silvia-Adriana ȚICĂU related to 2007/0196(COD)
Amendment 39 #
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) Statistics recently published by Eurostat show that in 2005 the EU-27 was dependent on imports for 57.7% of its gas. Although gas production in the EU-27 remained relatively constant over the period 1995-2005, internal consumption of natural gas rose by 33%, with that need being covered by a 77% increase in imports of natural gas. Apart from Denmark and the Netherlands, which are the only exporters of natural gas, and Great Britain, Romania and Poland, which have dependency rates for natural gas of 10%, 30% and 70% respectively, the other Member States have an 80% energy dependency rate for natural gas.
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The safeguarding of energy supply is an essential element of public security and is therefore inherently connected to the efficient functioning of the EU gas market. Use of the network is essential for gas to reach EU citizens. Functioning gas markets and in particular the networks and other assets associated with gas supply are essential for public security, for the competitiveness of the economy and for the well-being of the citizens of the Community. Gas infrastructure forms part both of the critical infrastructure of the Member State on whose territory it is located, and of European critical infrastructure. Without prejudice to the international obligations of the Community, the Community considers that the gas transmission system sector is of high importance to the Community and therefore additional safeguards are necessary regarding the influence of third countries in order to avoid any threats to Community public order and public security and the welfare of the citizens of the Community. Such measures are also necessary for ensuring compliance with the rules on effective unbundling.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) Investments in major new infrastructures should be strongly promoted while ensuring the proper functioning of the internal market in natural gas. Projects recognised by the European Council to be a priority, such as Nabucco, will diversify the European Union’s sources of natural gas supply and reduce the Union’s energy dependence on third countries. In order to enhance the positive effect of exempted infrastructure projects on competition and security of supply, market interest during the project planning phase should be tested and congestion management rules should be implemented. Where an infrastructure is located in the territory of more than one Member State, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators should handle the exemption request in order to take better account of its cross-border implications and to facilitate its administrative handling. Moreover, given the exceptional risk profile of constructing these exempt major infrastructure projects it should be possible to temporarily grant partial derogations to supply and production undertakings in respect of the unbundling rules for the projects concerned. This should in particular apply, for security of supply reasons, to new pipelines within the Community transporting gas from third countries into the Community.
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 20 a (new)
Recital 20 a (new)
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 23 a (new)
Recital 23 a (new)
(23a) The public service requirements and the common minimum standards that follow from them need to be further strengthened to make sure that gas services are accessible to the public and small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Amendment 123 #
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) Regulatory authorities should provide information to the market also to permit the Commission to exercise its role of observing and monitoring the European gas market and its short, medium and long term evolution, including aspects such as supply and demand, transmission and distribution infrastructures, cross-border trade, natural gas consumption, investments, wholesale and consumers prices, market liquidity, environmental and efficiency improvements.
Amendment 246 #
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 8
Article 1 – point 8
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Article 9 – paragraph 4
4. Where the Commission has taken a decision in accordance with the procedure in Article 7b and finds that the regulatory authority has not complied with its decision within two months, it shall, within a period of six months, designate, on a proposal from the Agency and after having heard the views of the transmission system owner, and the transmission system operator, the national regulatory authorities, an independent system operator for a period of 5 years. At any time, the transmission system owner may propose to the regulatory authority the designation of a new independent system operator pursuant to the procedure in Article 9(1).
Amendment 313 #
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 13
Article 1 – point 13
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point (a)
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point (a)
(a) the investment must enhance enhance competition in gas competition in gas supply and supply and enhance security enhance security of supply, through of supply; the diversification of gas supply sources;
Amendment 352 #
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 13
Article 1 – point 13
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 22 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 4
Article 22 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 4
The Commission's approval of an exemption decision shall lose its effect after twohree years from its adoption if construction of the infrastructure has not yet started, and after fiseven years if the infrastructure has not become operational.
Amendment 365 #
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Article 1 – point 14
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 24a – paragraph 3 – point (b)
Article 24a – paragraph 3 – point (b)
(b) its management ischairmen and vice-chairmen are appointed for a non renewable fixed term of at least five years, renewable once, and may only be relieved from office during itstheir term if ithey no longer fulfils the conditions set out in this Article or ithey hasve been guilty of serious misconduct.
Amendment 378 #
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Article 1 – point 14
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 24b – point (f a) (new)
Article 24b – point (f a) (new)
"(fa) ensuring the protection of consumers, especially those considered vulnerable, as well as the accessibility of natural gas supply services."
Amendment 498 #
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Article 1 – point 14
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 24d – paragraph 2
Article 24d – paragraph 2
2. Regulatory authorities shall cooperate at least on a regional level to foster the creation of operational arrangements in order to ensure an optimal management of the network, develop joint gas exchanges and the allocation of cross-border capacity, and to ensure a minimum level of interconnection capacity within the region to allow for effective competition to develop. Any decision by a regulatory authority impeding the integration of the gas markets at regional level shall be notified to the Commission and to the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators.