Trans-European energy networks: guidelines

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the draft report by Nicholas CLEGG (ELDR, UK) making some amendments to the common position. These are as follows: - Community financial aid for construction and maintenance should remain highly exceptional, and the exceptions should be duly justified; - since the project may have considerable political and economical implications, it is important to find the appropriate balance between legislative oversight and flexibility in determining projects that merit potential Community support. The revision of Annex III by comitology procedure must be limited to modifications of a purely technical nature (for example, modifying a particular part of a specified route) but should not include substantial changes such as entirely new projects nor new country destinations, which would therefore remain subject to the codecision procedure; - priority projects will be compatible with sustainable development and meet the following criteria: they must have a significant impact on the competitive operation of the internal market and/or they must strengthen security of supply in the Community; - the Commission must report every two years rather than every four years.�