Brussels – MEPs voting in the European Parliament’s energy and industry committee on rules for the EU market in fossil gas and rules for the fossil gas transmission network gave gas companies the power to keep Europe hooked on fossil fuels, Greenpeace has warned.

The committee voted to give the fossil gas industry, through the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas, a powerful role to model and plan the future hydrogen network, on top of the gas one, instead of entrusting it to an independent body. Environmental groups have warned that this allows the fossil gas industry to make money off a costly build-out of a system that transports large amounts of polluting fossil gas and hydrogen made using fossil fuels.

Greenpeace EU climate and energy campaigner Silvia Pastorelli said: “This is like letting the foxes design the hen houses in the first place. Not only do major polluters already have the pen to write the rules for fossil gas, the EU Parliament’s energy committee has now handed over management of a loophole-filled future hydrogen network, so gas companies can greenwash their activities. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis should be reason enough to wean Europe off gas, but instead of picking a phase-out date MEPs have voted to lock us in further.”

The committee also voted to skip approval by the Parliament’s plenary session, and to go straight to negotiations with the European Commission and national governments on a final deal. National governments have yet to come to an agreed joint position on the gas market rules.

Contacts:

Silvia Pastorelli, Greenpeace EU climate and energy campaigner: +32 496 12 20 94, [email protected]  

Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 274 1911, [email protected]

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. We do not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties. Greenpeace has over three million supporters, and 26 independent national and regional organisations with offices in more than 55 countries.

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