A vélemény adatlapja 

Providing the views and points of particular relevance from the viewpoint of local and regional authorities in relation to the following legislative proposals:

• DIRECTIVE on common rules for the internal markets in renewable and natural gases and in hydrogen - COM(2021) 803 final
• REGULATION on the internal markets for renewable and natural gases and for hydrogen (recast) - COM(2021) 804 final
• REGULATION on methane emissions reduction in the energy sector and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/942 - COM(2021) 805 final

• stresses the need to protect consumers from high prices and to guarantee security of energy supply for them;
• taking energy security issues into account, there is the need to quickly establish a common framework for the phasing-out of natural gas;
• calls for avoiding the creation of stranded assets;
• draws attention to the possibility of introducing guarantees of origin for low-carbon and renewable gases;
• calls for the expansion of ENTSOG's remit to cover the development of a low-carbon and renewable gas market instead of setting up the separate ENNOH organisation for this purpose;
• calls for an assessment of the long-term potential of biogas and biomethane production at regional level;
• recommends the establishment of a common methodology for monitoring methane emissions;
• draws attention to the need to extend the mandatory deadlines indicated in the Methane Regulation by 9 or 12 months in order to ensure that Member States are better prepared.

The EP took into account a few points of the CoR opinion, including issues related to Guarantees of Origin. In line with the CoR position also the EP includes clear references to energy povery and local specificities such as in rural regions. The Commission has welcomed the CoR suggestion that new natural gas infrastructure should be ready to receive renewable and low-carbon gases.

THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS



- stresses the need to protect consumers from high prices and to guarantee security of energy supply for them. This is particularly important in the current geopolitical context;

- taking energy security issues into account the Union should phase out fossil fuels as quickly as possible, including natural gas, and achieve a highly energy-efficient and predominantly renewable-based economy. Therefore, there is the need to quickly establish a common framework for the phasing-out of natural gas;

- calls for the expansion of ENTSOG's remit to cover the development of a low-carbon and renewable gas market instead of setting up the separate ENNOH organisation for this purpose;

- calls for an assessment of the long-term potential of biogas and biomethane production at regional level, on the basis of which it will be possible to identify the regional development potential of the decarbonised gas ecosystem;

- recommends the establishment of a common methodology for monitoring methane emissions, which will allow the launch of coordinated efforts to reduce methane emissions in the EU.