Vol. 397 No. 6
57 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Energy whether his Department have conveyed their views to the European Commission on their proposal of third party access to purchasing from the European gas grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
At the moment the EC Ministers are studying a proposal from the Commission on how to increase inter-Community gas exchanges. At this stage, the Commission proposal refers to transit of gas by and between utilities, across the frontier of two or more member states but does not refer to end users buying and transiting gas through the European gas grid. I have sought to achieve that third country gas, bought by utilities in a member state, can be carried to such a purchaser through the grid of another member state. The draft directive under discussion now allows for this.
I have indicated my support at the Council of Ministers for the Commission's proposal.
