Reversing the flow on Central European gas pipelines

18.3.2014

Question for written answer E-003162-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Tonino Picula (S&D)

Central European Member States are considering the possibility of stepping up the distribution of liquid natural gas (LNG) by reversing pipeline flows, thus reducing the dependence on gas imports from Russia. Most cross-border interconnections, and hence those linking Slovakia and Hungary, Hungary and Croatia, and Slovakia and Ukraine, have the reverse capability needed for gas to flow in both directions, having been adapted under the EU regulation on security of supply, whereby all pipeline interconnections between Member States were supposed to have been equipped with a permanent bidirectional capacity by 3 December 2013; the one exception is the Austria-Hungary interconnection, on which no reverse flow capacity has been installed.

Recent external events have again highlighted the potential problems with security of supply where gas is concerned. Given that the system is not complete, will the Commission take any measures to enable gas to be traded efficiently by means of reverse flow, so as to ensure that Central European countries which are not self-sufficient in energy can be helped to enhance their security of supply?

OJ C 335, 25/09/2014