EUROPEAN BODIES
The gas market in Europe is regulated by different transnational bodies, created at the instigation either of the European Union or of private market operators.
European bodies :
ENTSOG (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas)
The 3rd Energy Package adopted on July 13, 2009 requires European transmission operators to work together within a network of European gas transmission system operators from March 3, 2011.
On December 1, 2009, this network of European gas transmission system operators took the form of an association under Belgian law called ENTSOG.
GRTgaz is one of the founder members of ENSTOG.
ENTSOG’s main function is to draw up network codes (operating rules) governing the gas transmission market in Europe at the interconnections between countries.
France holds around 7% of the voting rights in this association (divided between TIGF and GRTgaz).
The priority for GRTgaz is to be able to have the earliest possible influence on the development of the rules for access to Europe’s transmission systems through active participation in ENTSOG’s work.
The Madrid Forum
Created in 1999 by the European Commission, the role of the European Gas Regulation Forum ("Madrid Forum") is to harmonise the rules governing the natural gas market in Europe, in order to bring about a genuine single European market.
All the industry players are represented at this forum, which takes place once or twice a year: Member states, European Commission, system operators, suppliers, customers, national regulatory authorities.
The European Regulators’ Group for Electricity and Gas (ERGEG)
In 2003, the European Commission created a new institution, ERGEG, comprising the national regulatory authorities in the gas and electricity sectors. The role of this consultative group is to assist the European Commission in consolidating the internal electricity and gas markets. In particular, its role is to help to ensure that the provisions of Directives on gas and electricity are uniformly applied in all member states.
On April 25, 2006, ERGEG decided to divide up its work on the opening up of the European gas market by establishing three regional initiative groups (Gas Regional Initiatives or GRI). ERGEG assists each of the European regions (North-West, South/South-East and South) in defining and implementing solutions for the development of a single, competitive European market. The main market players, including GRTgaz, are involved in this work.
Private operators’ groups in which GRTgaz is involved :
GIE - Gas Infrastructure Europe
GIE is an independent association representing 57 companies from 27 countries whose activities relate to the gas infrastructures in Europe.
GIE is made up of three main entities :
- GTE (Gas Transmission Europe) represents transmission system operators,
- GSE (Gas Storage Europe) represents storage system operators,
- GLE (Gas LNG Europe) represents liquefied natural gas infrastructure operators.
The role GIE has taken on is to promote a stable, reliable and consistent regulatory framework, by stimulating a secure investment climate, guaranteeing security of supply and thereby contributing to the internal European gas market.
GTE – Gas Transmission Europe
GTE is the body, within GIE, which represents Europe’s gas transmission companies. Created in 2000, GTE seeks to support increased liberalisation of the European gas market, to contribute to security of supply across Europe and to establish a transparent and non-discriminatory European market whilst protecting the interests of transmission operators.
In order to achieve this, GTE is actively involved in research and development for optimum solutions in concert with other parties involved, in particular the associations representing the users of natural gas transmission systems, European organisations and the public authorities. GTE is an active participant in the Madrid Forum.
EASEE-gas - European Association for the Streamlining of Energy Exchange
Created in 2002, EASEE-gas brings together players from all parts of the industry (producers, infrastructure operators, suppliers, shippers, end customers). Its role is to develop and promote simpler and better ways of providing physical transportation of gas and trading gas in Europe.
(GRTgaz is actively involved in the work of EASEE-gas and is part of its Board of Directors).
