Vladimir Urutchev, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Mr President, as the Commissioner stated, a number of existing intergovernmental agreements were not compliant with EU law. The high-profile example was the South Stream project. Moreover, it has proved very difficult, even impossible, to renegotiate or terminate such agreements. According to the new rules, Member States should inform the Commission in advance about their future gas and oil contracts with third countries through a formally established exchange mechanism. This mechanism will allow Member States to be aware early enough about non-conformity with EU law and to have the Commission’s expertise on their side.

I would highlight the fact that this is the first dossier from the Energy Union strategy on which an agreement with the Council has been reached, and securing this agreement in a record time is a significant political achievement towards establishing the Energy Union.

The key objectives of the decision are to increase transparency of the energy market, to guarantee that intergovernmental agreements in the field of gas and oil are in line with EU law, and to strengthen the EU’s resilience to gas and oil supply disruptions. It will equally increase Member States’ negotiating power with third countries, as they benefit from the political and economic weight of the European Union. Subsequently, a high degree of transparency will also contribute to closer cooperation between Member States in the field of external energy relations and the achievement of long-term objectives relating to the functioning of the internal energy market.

More transparency and coordinated purchasing will eliminate market fragmentation in the EU. That is why I think this decision deserves our approval.