Under the European framework aimed at ensuring a reliable and competitive gas supply, underground gas storage facilities in the EU must be at least 90% full before the start of winter.
These rules were introduced in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when the EU adopted the gas storage regulation as part of a broader set of measures responding to supply disruptions, sanctions, and countermeasures from Russia, formerly the bloc’s largest energy supplier.
At the end of last year, the European Commission approved a regulation establishing intermediate filling targets for 1 February, 1 May, 1 July, and 1 September 2025. These benchmarks apply both to member states with domestic storage facilities and to countries connected through the European gas network. They serve as minimum requirements to ensure storage levels are sufficient for the winter of 2025–2026.
Although some analysts earlier this year expressed concern that geopolitical changes and market conditions might prevent Europe from meeting the 90% goal, early September data shows the targets remain achievable. Most countries are performing well: in Italy, inventories are already close to 89% compared with an interim target of 72%, while Croatia has reached nearly 89% against its 83% goal. However, Hungary’s storage level is around 68%, falling short of the 1 September benchmark of 83%.
Since the adoption of the storage regulation in June 2022, the EU has exceeded its annual goals each year. For instance, by 1 November last year, EU gas stocks were about 95% full, covering roughly one third of the bloc’s annual gas consumption.
