Text tabled : A7-0283/2012, A7-0284/2012

  Vilja Savisaar-Toomast (ALDE), in writing. − (ET) Today, I voted in favour of both reports on shale gas for the following reasons.

Firstly, there are considerable shale gas deposits within the EU of which about 14 000 billion cubic metres could be available technology-wise. For comparison, the annual consumption of indigenous and imported conventional gas in the EU is about 522 billion cubic metres. Thus the demand for energy carriers is high and the potential use of shale gas increases our energy independence.

Secondly, Article 194(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union clearly states that Member States have sovereign rights regarding choice of energy mix, and issuing licences and other approvals for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon resources is a Member State prerogative. In other words, it is for each Member State to decide for itself how it addresses these issues.

Thirdly, regardless of the decisions taken by Member States, environmental safety must be ensured, and where shale gas is extracted maximum compliance with environmental standards must be ensured by means of rigorous control mechanisms.