London, 10 December 2009 

Last year, at the Madrid Gas Forum 2008, all internal gas market stakeholders agreed that improved fundamental data transparency was necessary for the development of an effective, efficient and integrated market. 

To improve the current patchy level of transparency in Europe’s gas networks, EFET1, OGP2, Eurelectric, Eurogas, GEODE3 and CEDEC4 presented a list of minimum requirements to apply across the EU. Other associations and regulators, including IFIEC and ERGEG, supported the need for this improved information provision and called for it to be made legally binding.

The European Commission responded to the view of Europe’s gas stakeholders and put forward proposals to amend Chapter 3 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005. The new EU Gas Committee of Member States representatives could now adopt the Commission’s proposal on 18th December and help meet the needs of EU gas network users and gas consumers.

“This is something of a test case for the EU comitology procedure”, said Colin Lyle, Chairman of the EFET Gas Committee. “Everyone knows that better transparency is needed, the agreed information list was brought forward through the Madrid Gas Forum and there has been subsequent consultation to establish the Commission’s proposal. Some minor word changes could clarify their proposal, but the focus should be on the timely adoption and implementation of these necessary improvements”.

EFET recognises that information provision must evolve with the developing gas market. The Commission proposal sets out a baseline for what, how and when information should be published by gas Transmission System Operators.

“Now is the time to consolidate this basic step of agreed information provision”, added Cemil Altin, Leader of the EFET Gas Information Project Group.

“Adoption of the Commission’s proposals on 18th December 2009 would show real commitment by the Member States to a successful EU gas market. Failure to agree would mean losing an opportunity to deliver real improvements now.”

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