Brussels unveils strategy for gas security
Maroš Šefcovic and Miguel Arias Cañete unveiled the Energy Security Package in Brussels on Tuesday. (EC)
The European Commission has proposed new laws to strengthen the security of gas supply in EU countries and beyond. The legislative package features a number of controversial proposals, including a so-called ‘solidarity principle’ whereby EU member states would be obliged to supply gas to neighbouring countries in crisis situations.
When individual markets are unable to deal with a disruption to their gas supply alone – as seen during the gas crises in 2006 and 2009 – an emergency plan will be triggered and, as a last resort, the solidarity principle will apply. This is to ensure supply to households, schools and hospitals in crisis situations, the commission said.