Belgium Wary of EU Gas Security Proposal

Five countries are seeking to rein back a new European Commission draft law that aims to bolster safeguards against EU-wide gas supply disruptions. Belgium in particular has told NGE why.

Bloomberg News reported on April 8 that Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and Italy jointly were against ceding more powers over security of supply to EU authorities, according to a document that it had obtained. The EC had proposed closer regional cooperation among member states, and more oversight of contracts with Russia and other external suppliers.

NGE contacted the governments named, most of which did not respond.

Germany’s economy and energy ministry told NGE: “The Commission presented in February its energy security package with proposals to equip the EU for global energy transition as well as to be prepared for possible energy supply interruptions.” Negotiations among member states at an EU council working group were ongoing, a spokeswoman added, declining to comment further.

Belgium’s economy and energy ministry however did comment. “We can confirm that Belgium, along with four other countries, is not satisfied with the proposal of the EU Commission. The relevant document is not public, but Belgium is most of all opposed to the current proposal of the regional geographical zoning of the security of supply. We are in favour of doing first a risk analysis of regional zoning of security of supply and discussing the regional zoning on the basis of the results of this risk analysis. For the moment there is no timetable or indication of timing available.”

Mark Smedley