Trans-European energy networks: guidelines

Of the 16 amendments adopted by the European Parliament, the Commission's amended proposal took over five in full and seven in part. These amendments related to the following points: - the need to encourage the production, distribution and rational use of energy resources as well as the need to reduce the cost of energy for individuals and businesses; - the need to establish an overall energy strategy to achieve the objectives of the European Union, and particularly the liberalisation of the energy market; - the interconnection of networks with third countries which were signatories to the European Energy Charter should take place in accordance with that treaty; - the links connecting the gas and electricity networks should be as short as possible and optimally sited; - when assessing projects of common interest, consideration should be given to economic, social and technical factors; - Member States were required to comply with Community law and international conventions on the environment when taking measures to facilitate the completion of projects of common interest and to minimise delays. However, the Commission did not take over the amendments aimed at: - establishing an advisory committee (type I) for the implementation of these measures, instead of the management committee proposed by the Commission; - adding a new electricity project "d14: Baltic ring" to the annex; - adding the Italian peninsula to project e3 in the annex (gas pipeline to Corsica and Sardinia); - including Finland and the Baltic countries in project h3 in the annex (connecting Norway, Denmark and Sweden to the SCANPIPE gas pipeline). �