EU Energy Platform: Work advances on joint gas purchasing after legal proposal is agreed by Energy Ministers

The European Commission convened today a high-level industrial roundtable to support the work of the EU Energy Platform in further advancing on joint gas purchasing which is due to kick off in 2023. Today’s meeting follows the adoption yesterday by EU Energy Ministers of the Commission’s proposed Regulation on enhancing solidarity through better coordination of gas purchases, exchanges of gas across borders and reliable price benchmarks. This Regulation provides the legal basis for aggregating EU gas demand, joint purchasing and more efficient use of infrastructure, including of EU LNG terminals.

The meeting was opened by President Ursula von der Leyen and chaired by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, and was attended by high-level representatives from 33 companies from EU Member States and Energy Community Contracting Parties. The meeting focused on the need for genuine engagement by the EU gas industry, both larger and smaller market operators, in the Platform. The objective of the Platform is to help coordinate gas purchases, while using the EU’s collective negotiating and political power, to secure supplies from reliable partners at sustainable prices for EU citizens and businesses. In January, the Commission will convene the first official meeting of the Steering Board, composed of EU Member States, to help coordinate both the process of demand aggregation and joint purchasing.

Source: European Commission