Activites

• 1997/11/10 Final act published in Official Journal
• 1997/10/22 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0494/1997 summary

    The European Parliament approved without debate the report by Mr Gordon ADAM (PSE, UK), on the communication from the Commission on the external dimension of trans-European energy networks. In its resolution, Parliament makes a number of observations concerning the communication and calls on the Commission to fulfil its commitment to provide information regarding the technical specification of the projects of mutual interest which feature in the annexes of the proposal establishing guidelines relating to trans-European energy networks (in particular amendments affecting the projects referred to in Decisions 1254/96/EC and 1047/97/EC) - to regulate the use of funds earmarked for TACIS, PHARE, MEDA and SYNERGY, EIB loans or EIF loan guarantees so as to give priority with regard to regional oil pipeline networks to the promotion of interconnections, interoperability and the development of natural gas and electricity networks defined as being of mutual interest, the criterion being an increase in the Community's security supply under the quantity, quality and price conditions which most closely meet the requirements of economic policy. - to improve electricity interconnections with the Mediterranean Basin and natural gas connections with the Balkan and Baltic regions; - to provide additional financial support for environmental protection measures in connection with trans-European projects; - identify technical bottlenecks in the trans- and pan-European network, for example by completing the 'Baltic ring', establishing a new electric connection between Germany and the Baltic countries through Poland (a marine cable has already been laid from Finland to Sweden and Sweden is already connected to Denmark and Germany). Finally, Parliament indicates that it is not in favour of trans-European natural gas networks since the cost of long distance transport through gas pipelines may be very high. It proposes the development of a virtual network for the supply of natural gas in liquid form rather than a gas pipeline network so as to avoid the Union being dependent on suppliers in areas in danger of political instability. �

• 1997/09/24 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0285/1997
• #2009
• 1997/05/27 Council Meeting
  • 2009
• 1997/04/11 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1997/03/26 Non-legislative basic document published
  • COM(1997)0125 summary

    OBJECTIVE: to analyse possible natural gas and electricity interconnections with third countries and the development of these networks on the scale of the European continent, the Mediterranean basin and, where appropriate, Central Asia and the Middle East. SUBSTANCE: Four main considerations emerged from the Commission analysis: - there is a good initial level of energy interconnection with third countries of Europe and of the Mediterranean Basin, but with some missing links, in particular with the Balkan and Baltic regions; - identification of trans-European energy network projects of mutual interest (TENs) is well advanced under the Community guidelines for trans-European networks in the energy sector (28 such projects, each one involving both Community and non-Community countries, have been identified so far and are being implemented). At the same time, identification of energy network projects of regional interest in the third countries concerned has started. The Commission points out that the natural gas projects are at the construction stage (e.g. Algeria, Morocco and Spain pipeline), but that the electricity projects are generally less advanced (study or authorization stage). However, this is part of a process of longer term cooperation which the Community will continue to support within the SYNERGY energy programme and the PHARE, TACIS and MEDA programmes; - a framework is in place for Community actions of a political nature for the implementation of trans-European and regional energy network projects in the third countries concerned (EC Treaty, TEN guidelines, European Energy Charter, association agreements) and for the implementation of coherent energy policies in these countries (through the SYNERGY and the PHARE, TACIS and MEDA programmes); - the Community financial intervention mechanisms are also in place for supporting: the studies related to TEN mutual interest projects (aid from the TEN energy budget line), the studies related to regional energy network projects in the third countries concerned (aid from the PHARE, TACIS and MEDA programmes), in specific cases, the investment related to the above projects in the third countries concerned (aid from PHARE, loans from the EIB or loan guarantees from the EIF). However, the Commission would wish the mobilization of the operators' own resources and of other sources of private financing (EBRD and World Bank) to be systemically sought. In conclusion, the Commission commits itself to making use of the available guidelines and political and financial instruments in order to support the development of trans-European and regional energy network projects in the third countries concerned and their interconnection with the networks of the Community. The interconnection of networks on a wider scale will effectively contribute to improving the security of the energy supplies, economic and social cohesion and the functioning of the internal market. It will also serve the competitivity, environmental protection, enlargement and external cooperation objectives of the Community. �

Documents

• Non-legislative basic document published: COM(1997)0125
• Debate in Council: 2009
• Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A4-0285/1997
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0494/1997

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)