Regulation (EU) 2025/1733

What it is

PURPOSE: to extend existing measures regarding gas-storage provisions. PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: Regulation (EU) 2022/1032 of the Parliament and of the Council was adopted in reaction to the gas-supply crisis and unprecedented price increases caused by the escalation of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. It amended Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 by introducing a temporary legal framework for measures regarding the filling level of underground storage facilities to strengthen the security of gas supply in the Union, in particular gas supplies to protected customers. The European Parliament adopted by 542 votes to 109, with 30 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 as regards the role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season. The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading by amending the Commission's proposal as follows: The proposed regulation aims to extend by two years (until the end of 2027) the relevant gas storage-filling provisions that provide predictability and transparency as to the utilisation of gas storage facilities across the Union, while at the same time introducing some flexibility into those provisions. The amendment aims to reduce the Union's exposure to price volatility linked to geopolitical instability following Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The amended text maintains the existing binding filling target of 90% gas storage, but provides some flexibility to achieve it at any time between 1 October and 1 December of each year, instead of the current deadline of 1 November. In the case of difficult conditions , such as indications of trading activities hindering cost-effective storage filling, low seasonal price spread, high price environment, storage levels below the trajectory at Member State level or unforeseen technical circumstances that would make storage injection difficult and costly, limiting the ability to ensure that the gas storages are filled in accordance with the Regulation, Member States should have the possibility to deviate from the filling target by up to ten percentage points . Furthermore, in the case of persistent unfavourable market conditions , such as indications of possible market manipulation, or of trading activities hindering cost-effective storage-filling, that significantly limit the ability to ensure that the gas storages are filled in accordance with the Regulation, the Commission should be empowered to further increase the level of deviation allowed by means of a delegated act. That increase should not exceed an additional five percentage points . A Member State making use of any of the flexibilities provided for in the Regulation will consult the Commission and justify its decision immediately. The Commission will inform the Gas Coordination Group and any directly affected Member State without delay of…

Official title: Regulation (EU) 2025/1733 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2025 amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 as regards the role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season