Regulation 2022/2576 - Council Regulation 2022/2576 enhancing solidarity through better coordination of gas purchases, reliable price benchmarks and exchanges of gas across borders - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 335/1

The Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine and the unprecedented reduction of natural gas supplies from the Russian Federation to Member States threaten the security of supply of the Union and its Member States. At the same time, the weaponisation of the gas supply and the Russian Federation’s manipulation of the markets through intentional disruptions of gas flows have led to skyrocketing energy prices in the Union, endangering not only the economy of the Union, but also seriously undermining security of supply.

This requires a strong and coordinated response from the Union, to protect its citizens and its economy against excessive and manipulated market prices and to make sure that gas flows to all consumers in need across borders, also in situations of gas scarcity. To lower the dependency on supplies of natural gas from the Russian Federation and to bring excessive prices down, a better coordination of gas purchases from external suppliers is crucial.

Article 122(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) enables the Council to decide, on a proposal from the Commission and in a spirit of solidarity between Member States, upon the measures appropriate in the economic situation, in particular if severe difficulties arise in the supply of certain products, notably in the area of energy. The high risk of a complete halt of Russian gas supplies and the extreme increase in energy prices undermining the Union’s economy constitute such severe difficulties.

The Commission announced in its communication of 18 May 2022 entitled ‘REPowerEU plan’ the setting up of an EU Energy Purchase Platform together with the Member States for the common purchase of gas, liquified natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen. That announcement was endorsed by the European Council of 30 and 31 May 2022. As part of the REPowerEU Plan, the Commission also presented the strategy for an EU external energy engagement, which explains how the Union supports a global, clean and just energy transition to ensure sustainable, secure and affordable energy, including by diversifying the Union’s energy supply, in particular by negotiating political commitments with existing or new gas suppliers to increase gas deliveries and thus to replace Russian gas deliveries to Europe.

The EU Energy Purchase Platform can play a pivotal role in seeking mutually beneficial partnerships that contribute to security of supply and lead to lower import prices of gas purchased from third countries, making full use of the Union’s collective weight. Enhanced international outreach to gas suppliers (both pipeline and LNG) as well as the green hydrogen suppliers of the future is essential for this purpose. In particular a much stronger coordination with and among Member States via-à-vis third countries via the EU Energy Purchase Platform would ensure the Union’s collective weight is more effective.

As a situation of severe difficulties in ensuring security of supply persists, joint purchasing should help ensure more equal access for undertakings across Member States to new or additional gas sources and, to the benefit of final consumers, help ensure lower prices than might otherwise have applied to those purchasing the gas through the service provider...