The Council held a policy debate on the draft Directive regarding the security of supply of natural gas.
Summing up the debate, the President noted that a majority of delegations were agreed that the main objective of the Directive should be the security of energy supply.
He concluded that harmonised rules should not go beyond the absolute minimum necessary for supply measures and standards. Market forces are in general considered to be sufficient to ensure both security of gas supply and a level playing field regarding security of supply obligations. In any event, due account should be taken - before deciding on new instruments - of the implementation of the new Directive aimed at liberalising Community gas markets. �