EU member state representatives have endorsed the EU Council’s revised position on the gas storage regulation, proposing a two-year extension of the current requirement for countries to fill their gas storage facilities to 90% ahead of winter. This move aims to protect the EU from volatile gas prices amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The extension is part of broader efforts to strengthen the bloc’s energy security and stabilize the gas market while a more comprehensive EU energy security strategy is developed in the coming years. To provide more flexibility, the revised regulation includes several updates that allow member states to better adapt to changing market conditions, without compromising supply stability or the integrity of the internal market.
A significant modification is the replacement of the fixed 1 November deadline with a more flexible window: the 90% storage target can now be met at any time between 1 October and 1 December. Additionally, interim storage benchmarks for February, May, July, and September are now considered non-binding. This change is expected to offer market players greater operational freedom throughout the year while maintaining sufficient planning and transparency.
In situations involving adverse market dynamics—such as suspected market manipulation—countries may fall short of the 90% storage target by up to 10%. The European Commission would also be empowered to extend this margin through delegated acts if difficult market conditions continue.
Further exemptions are available under specific circumstances. Member states whose domestic gas production exceeds average consumption over the past two years, or those with large storage facilities (exceeding 40 TWh) experiencing slow injection rates, may be allowed a 5% deviation from the target. However, such flexibility is contingent on not disrupting the internal gas market or jeopardizing supply to protected consumers in neighboring countries.
Formal negotiations on the revised regulation are expected to begin in May, following the European Parliament’s adoption of its position. Once a provisional deal is reached between the Parliament and the Council, it must be ratified by both institutions before the new rules can officially take effect.
