Trans-European energy networks: guidelines

The European Parliament adopted the resolution drafted by Anne LAPERROUZE (ALDE, FR) and made some amendments to the Commission’s text. (Please see the summary of 26/04/2005.) Parliament also made the following amendments:

- the recitals emphasise consultation of those affected by projects as well as public service obligations;

- a new recital states that the decision will serve to move closer towards realising the objective, set at the Barcelona European Council, of a minimum level of electricity interconnection between Member States equivalent to 10% of installed generating capacity in each Member State, thereby improving network reliability and security and ensuring security of supply and the effective operation of the internal market;

- a further new recital states since the Community budget earmarked for the trans-European energy networks is relatively modest and mainly intended to finance feasibility studies, it is the Community Structural Funds, programmes and financial instruments that enable, if necessary, funding to be provided for such - in particular interregional - interconnection networks;

- a new sub-paragraph to Article 7 asserts that, as regards cross-border investment projects, Member States will take the necessary measures to ensure that, in the context of national authorisation procedures, the fact that such projects increase the capacity for interconnection of two or more Member States and consequently strengthen Europe-wide security of supply is treated as a decisive criterion in the assessment undertaken by the competent national authorities;

- the European Coordinator may be designated by the Commission by Agreement with the European Parliament.