Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Changedon the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU)2017/1938(EU) 2017/1938 as regards the role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season

▸6 unchanged paragraphs

(COM(2025)0099 – C100041/2025 – 2025/0051(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2025)0099),

– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 194(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C100041/2025),

– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Changed– having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of ...,26 March 2025,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of ...,

– having regard to Rule 60 of its Rules of Procedure,

Changed– having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (A100000/2025),(A10-0079/2025),

Changed1. Adopts its position at first reading, taking overreading thehereinafter Commissionset proposal;out;

2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Change 1

AddedAMENDMENTS BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT*

Addedto the Commission proposal

Added---------------------------------------------------------

AddedREGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

AddedAmending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 as regards the role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season

AddedTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

AddedHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 194(2) thereof,

AddedHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

AddedAfter transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

AddedActing in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,

AddedWhereas:

Added(1) Regulation (EU) 2022/1032 of the Parliament and of the Council was adopted in reaction to the gas-supply crisis and unprecedented price increases caused by the escalation of the Russia's ongoing unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine since February 2022, impelling the Union to act in a coordinated and comprehensive manner to avoid potential risks resulting from further gas-supply disruptions.

Added(2) Regulation (EU) 2022/1032 amended Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 by introducing a temporary legal framework for measures regarding the filling level of underground storage facilities to strengthen the security of gas supply in the Union, in particular gas supplies to protected customers.

Added(3) Gas-storage facilities provide for 30% of the Union’s gas consumption during the winter months, and well-filled underground gas-storage facilities as well as gas demand reduction contribute substantially to the security of gas supply by providing additional gas in the event of high demand or supply disruptions.

Added(4) The laying down of a mandatory target to ensure that gas-storage facilities are 90% full by 1 November (filling target), with a series of intermediate targets for each Member State in February, May, July and September of the following year ▌(filling trajectory), proved to be fundamental during the energy crisis sparked by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and Russia's weaponisation of its gas supplies in both: (i) weathering the gas-supply shortages; and (ii) reducing market uncertainties and price volatility.

Added(5) Despite the substantial improvement of the gas market situation compared to the period 2022-2023 ▌, the European gas market remains tight and the geopolitical situation remains unclear. More intense competition for global LNG supplies can increase Member States exposure to price volatility. ▌In such situation, the role of gas storages remains paramount. ▌

Added(6) Pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 the obligation of the Member States to follow an annual filling trajectory and to ensure that the filling target is achieved by 1 November of each year expires on 31 December 2025.

Added(6a) Since 2022, the Union has substantially succeeded in making gas supplies more secure by increasing LNG imports from trustworthy global partners and is aiming to fully eliminate the Union’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels, building on the progress of REPowerEU. The Union has developed new regasification facilities and port terminals, while also establishing a liquid gas market that ensures strong resilience against potential disruptions in the remaining Russian pipeline supplies.

Added(6b) The changed global political environment has to be taken into account with regard to the reliability of the gas suppliers and gas supplying countries.

Added(7) In the light of the European success to derisk its gas import structure, the overall framework to meet the Union’s need for natural gas must strike a balance between energy security and the return to market-based principles. It must thus be flexible enough during the filling season to allow a swift reaction to constantly changing market conditions and in particular to take advantage of the best purchasing conditions in order to bring down gas prices in Europe. The filling target should therefore be lowered to 83 %

Added(8) To enhance market stability and mitigate the risk of undue price volatility potentially triggered by intermediary filling targets, it is appropriate to provide increased flexibility for storage filling. Member States should therefore provide indicative filling plans on a yearly basis that could include where appropriate an indicative filling trajectory and should allow for storage filling in such a way that there is sufficient flexibility available for market participants throughout the year, taking into account Recommendation (2025)1481.

Added(8a) Member States should have the possibility to deviate by up to four percentage points from the filling target in the case of unfavourable market conditions, relating, inter alia, to factors such as supply and demand and competition, or of trading activities hindering cost-effective storage filling, that significantly limit the ability to ensure that the gas storages are filled in accordance with this Regulation.

Added(8b) Moreover, the Commission should be empowered to adopt delegated acts to amend for one filling season the level of the allowed deviation of four percentage points by increasing it by up to an additional four percentage points, in the case of persistent unfavourable market conditions.

Added(8c) The cumulative effects of the flexibilities and derogations in this Regulation should not bring down the overall storage filling obligations under 75 %.

Added(9) The Commission’s assessment of the current energy-security framework has confirmed the positive impact of the storage-filling requirements on the security of gas supply and those positive effects should be preserved beyond 2025. Extending these measures would not only contribute to the continued safeguarding of supply security, but would also constitute a key instrument in the Union’s efforts to eliminate its dependence on imports of gas originating in the Russian Federation.

Added(9a) At the same time this Regulation should respond to current and future changes in the natural gas markets and contribute to the strategic objective of bringing down energy prices and facilitate the gradual return towards market-based mechanisms for storage refilling.

Added(9b) In order to maintain the security of supply and the appropriate level of filling, the Commission should continuously monitor the market and explore ways that could help meet the filling target, for example using demand aggregation and joint purchasing mechanisms.

Added(10) It is therefore necessary to extend by two years the relevant gas storage filling provisions that provide predictability and transparency as to the utilisation of gas-storage facilities across the Union while at the same time introducing some flexibility into this Regulation.

Added(10a) In line with the Commission’s commitment to better regulation and simplification, and reflecting the overall improvement in the Union’s energy security framework, the monitoring of compliance with this Regulation should place greater trust in the Member States’ administrative capacities. The supervisory burden on the Commission should be reduced accordingly, with a shift towards lighter-touch reporting obligations and streamlined procedures. This approach reinforces the principle of subsidiarity, avoids unnecessary administrative complexity, and is consistent with the Commission’s simplification efforts as outlined in its Work Programme 2025.

Added(10b) Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 should be revised by the Commission in due time and before 2027 to be adapted to the evolving energy landscape and to reflect the future needs for gas storage. Among other issues, any amendments should address the limitations of the current definition of “protected customers”, the prevention of speculation on the gas markets and speculative activities that artificially inflate prices, the role of energy efficiency measures leading to verifiable gas demand reduction and how this could be used for further flexibilities by Member States and consider the framework under an evolving energy mix that will have an increased role of alternative sources to gas such as renewable energy sources, hydrogen together with the role of energy efficiency.

Added(11) Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 should therefore be amended accordingly,

AddedHAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

AddedAmendment to Regulation (EU) 2017/1938

Added▌Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 is amended as follows:

Added(1) in Article 2, point 27 is deleted;

Added(2) Article 6a is amended as follows:

Added(a) the title is replaced by the following: ‘Filling target’;

Added(b) in paragraph 1, the first subparagraph is replaced by the following:

Added‘1. Subject to paragraphs 2 to 5, Member States shall meet the filling target of 83 % for the aggregated capacity of all underground gas storage facilities that are located on their territory and directly interconnected to a market area in their territory and for storage facilities listed in Annex Ib at any point in time between 1 October and 1 December each year.’;

Added(c) the following paragraphs are inserted:

Added‘5a. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 and without prejudice to the obligation of other Member States to fill the underground gas storage facilities concerned, Member States may decide to deviate by up to four percentage points, from the filling target set out in paragraph 1 for each Member State if market conditions are unfavourable for filling underground gas storage facilities.

Added5b. In duly justified cases of persistent unfavourable market conditions, and provided that the security of supply of the Union and the Member States is not undermined, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 19 to amend this Regulation by increasing the allowed deviation for Member States, as laid down in paragraph 5a by up to 4 percentage points.

AddedIn its assessment, the Commission shall in particular take into account the level of storage filling in the Member States, global gas supply, ENTSOG’s seasonal supply outlook, and indications of market manipulation. It may also take into consideration Member State measures, such as the deployment of gas demand-reduction measures for gas that achieve equivalent gas reductions during the following withdrawal season.

Added5c. Member States referred to in paragraph 2 may under the same conditions as those provided for in paragraph 5a decide to deviate by up to 1,55 % below the volume set out in paragraph 2.

Added5d. Before using any of the deviations provided for in paragraphs 5a and 5c, each Member State shall consult the Commission and provide without undue delay a justification for its decision. The Commission shall promptly inform the GCG about the cumulative effects of all deviations pursuant to paragraphs 5a and 5c and any directly affected Member States.’;