21/03/2017 | 10:30
Improved transparency on international energy contracts: stronger energy security
The Council adopted today without debate a decision on establishing an information exchange mechanism with regard to intergovernmental agreements and non-binding instruments between member states and third countries in the field of energy.
The aim of the decision is to correct shortcomings in the existing information exchange mechanism on energy contracts in order to enhance the transparency and consistency of the EU's external energy relations and to strengthen the EU's negotiation position vis-à-vis third countries.
Following three trilogues at the end of 2016, a compromise was found on the following key issues:
- the definition of intergovernmental agreement: addition of "international organisations" and "transit"
- the scope of the ex ante assessment of IGA's by the Commission: it will cover gas and oil with a standard review clause
- when departing from the Commission's opinion in its ex ante assessment Member States should explain their reasons to the Commission in writing
- non-binding instruments: subject to voluntary ex post notification
After being signed by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council, the legislative act will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It will enter into force in the course of 2017 and, together with the regulation on the security of gas supply, it will play a major role in the implementation of the security dimension of the Energy Union Strategy.
"We are very pleased to adopt this important legislative act during our Presidency, the first one under the Energy Union. We want to thank the Slovak Presidency for all their preparatory work and the political agreement they achieved with the European Parliament during their Presidency. This decision will strengthen transparency in negotiations with third countries on energy agreements, ensuring that such agreements are fully compatible with Union law, thus contributing to energy security."Konrad Mizzi , Minister for Energy of Malta
Background
As part of its "Winter Package" of February 2016, the Commission proposed that it examine international agreements in the field of energy before they are signed by member states. It argued that if certain provisions of an intergovernmental agreement ('IGA') are found to be incompatible with Union law (such as the Third Energy Package, competition law, public procurement rules), it is very difficult or even impossible for a member state to renegotiate the IGA with a third country.
The proposal also responded to the European Council's conclusions of March 2015 which called for full compliance with Union law of all agreements related to the purchase of gas from external suppliers.
The Council agreed on a general approach in June 2016 and reached an informal agreement with the European Parliament on 7 December 2016, which was confirmed by Coreper.
| 21/3/2017 | |
| EU digitalises passenger registration to make travelling by sea safer: Council agrees its position | |||||||||||||||
The EU is moving to digitalise the registration of ship passengers to ensure that, in the event of an accident, search and rescue services have immediate access to information on the people on board. To make it easier to assist victims and their relatives, the recorded data will include passengers' nationality.
Further progress on this was made today when the Council agreed its position on updated requirements for registering passengers and crew on board European passenger ships which contain these new provisions. Having immediate access to passenger data may be critical, for example, in assisting in the search and rescue process. It may also prevent unnecessary anxiety on the part of relatives and friends.
Under current rules, passenger registration information is stored by the shipping company, and the search and rescue centre contacts the company's registrar in the event of an emergency. The system relies on the availability of the contact person, and valuable minutes may be lost before the rescue operation is launched.
Under the new requirements, data will no longer be kept by the shipping company but will be made immediately available to the relevant authority in electronic format. The two means of transmission, namely the National Single Windows and the Automatic Identification System were included in the original Commission proposal and were maintained by the Council.
The proposed new rules also include nationality in the data to be recorded, in addition to name, date of birth, gender, and -if the passenger so wishes- the need for special assistance in an emergency. At present, the recorded information does not always include nationality, which makes it more difficult to assist victims and their relatives.
Compared with the Commission proposal, the Council text extends from one to three years the "transposition" period for incorporating the new rules into national legislation. To avoid unnecessary administrative burdens, the Council gives member states which have neither maritime ports nor ships flying their flag the option of not transposing the directive.
The proposal was presented by the Commission last June. It is part of a broader review of EU passenger ship safety legislation, which aims to make travelling by sea safer while simplifying the rules and cutting administrative costs.
How will this proposal become law?
The "general approach" adopted today is the Council's position for talks with the European Parliament. The Parliament has not yet adopted its position on this proposal. Both institutions must agree on the text before it can enter into force.
Registration of ship passengers – Commission proposal
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