The composition of regional risk groups linked to the security of gas supply on the EU market has been updated today. The changes reinforce these groups as a platform for strengthening regional cooperation and take into account the expected impact of new and upcoming gas infrastructures on the gas flows within the relevant emergency gas corridors, as well as their potential contribution in case of supply disruption.
The risk groups will analyse the risks for the next 4 years and advise EU countries and the Commission on the measures to manage these risks properly. The groups are one of the important tools to strengthen the resilience of the EU gas market, in line with the Commission “toolbox” published on 13 October in response to the rise in EU energy market prices.
In legal terms, the changes of the composition of the risk groups are enacted by a Delegated Act amending Annex I of the EU Regulation for the security of supply for gas (2017/1938). These reflect improved cross-border connections already completed or that will be completed by 2023 as well as the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU.
Regional cooperation, together with solidarity between EU countries, is one the key elements of the 2017 Regulation on Security of Gas Supply. The joint risk groups are the basic structure for regional cooperation in practice. They are a platform within which EU country can agree on appropriate and effective cross-border measures along a given emergency supply corridor.
The decision coincides with today’s meeting of the Gas Coordination Group, which is discussing the cooperation mechanism of each group so that their work can start without delay. The Group exchanged information regarding the current security of gas supply in the EU, as well as views on the follow-up of the Toolbox to improve the medium-term resilience of the EU energy system and make current provisions on solidarity and the functioning of storage more effective.
The members of the Gas Coordination Group also had the opportunity to comment on the assumptions, methodology, and results of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) 2021 EU-wide Security of Supply simulation. This European analysis done by ENTSOG in cooperation with the Group as provided for by the Regulation will provide an important input to EU countries and the Commission for more detailed analysis at regional and national level and for updating the necessary preventive action plans and emergency plans.