Platts: European Commission wants bigger role in agreeing non-EU energy contracts: draft

The European Commission wants a bigger role in negotiating intergovernmental agreements with non-EU energy supplier countries, according to a draft of its EU energy union strategy paper seen by Platts Thursday.

"The commission's active participation in a member state's gas negotiations with third countries could more effectively avoid undue pressure or market distortions due to agreements with third countries not respecting European rules," the EC said in the draft.

The EC plans to adopt the final version of the strategy paper on February 25.

In the draft it suggests reforming the current EU rules on such intergovernmental agreements to require "a mandatory pre-consultation of the commission so that a better ex ante assessment of [the agreement's] compatibility with internal market rules and security of supply criteria is ensured."

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