The European Union will extend its 2022 gas storage rules until the end of 2027. The regulation obliges member states to reach a defined level of gas storage ahead of the winter season. Currently, underground storage facilities cover around 30% of the EU’s gas demand during the colder months. The new framework aims to ensure stable and affordable energy supplies.
“Gas storage between October and December is crucial. First, to guarantee supplies to citizens during this critical and harsh period. Second, to provide more flexibility and security of supply, to ensure gas availability, and to help stabilize prices,” said Mirosława Nykiel, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the Civic Platform, in an interview with Newseria.
The updated regulation extends the EU gas storage program by two years, until 31 December 2027. It introduces several adjustments to ease market pressures. Member states will be allowed to reach the 90% filling target at any point between October 1 and December 1. Once the threshold is achieved, they will no longer be required to maintain it until December. A 10% flexibility margin has also been introduced, which the Commission may increase by an additional 5% in the event of adverse market conditions.
“EU regulations on gas storage and energy security are vital because they concern strategic resources for the entire Union. These rules are designed to make Europeans feel safe. They are a set of guidelines that will, of course, still be subject to negotiation with the Commission,” said Daniel Obajtek, MEP from Law and Justice.
Obajtek emphasized that the new rules reflect the EU’s direction toward a safer Europe, though challenges remain.
“We see how difficult the issues of sanctions on oil or the roadmap for Europe’s independence from Russian gas are. Various mechanisms are being used: swaps, exchanges, Kazakh papers for Russian oil, or the so-called shadow fleet concealing origins. Yet, in reality, much of it is still Russian. Europe has a lot of work ahead to achieve true independence—not just in crude oil but also in refined and petrochemical products,” he explained.
Nykiel highlighted that the gas storage initiative proved effective during the early stages of the war in Ukraine.
“When the war broke out, Europe created gas storage facilities, and thanks to the efforts of Professor Jerzy Buzek and others, we avoided a severe crisis. Achieving 90% storage capacity is key to preventing price destabilization,” she stressed.
She also underlined the importance of joint European action: “It is vital to coordinate supply, transmission, and storage so that we can respond to both price fluctuations and supply security. You can never fully guarantee security, but you must try. Russia has shown itself to be unpredictable and aggressive, so achieving independence from Russian gas is critical.”
Poland, according to Nykiel, is in a relatively strong position: it meets one-third of its demand from domestic production and ranks around 10th in Europe by storage volume. “But even strong countries cannot handle everything alone in today’s global turbulence. Collective effort is essential,” she said.
Storage Capacity Across Europe
According to Gas Infrastructure Europe (as of 12 February 2025), the largest storage capacities are in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. Poland holds 21.6 TWh of gas (59.7% full). Germany, the leader, has 119.1 TWh in storage at 48.2% capacity.
Several EU states—including Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, and Slovenia—lack storage facilities entirely and must rely on solidarity agreements with other member states to secure winter reserves.
Nykiel stressed that cooperation with Germany is particularly important:
“Poland ranks around 10th, while Germany is first. Mutual support is crucial. Managing resources at the EU level provides supply stability, price stabilization, and independence from Russia. Alone, we couldn’t achieve this.”
Market Dynamics and Energy Independence
Obajtek, however, believes the new rules will not significantly affect price speculation.
“Gas and oil prices on international markets are driven by other mechanisms—logistics disruptions, wars, or OPEC production decisions. Sometimes, it is simply the economy itself: when growth slows, demand for raw materials falls, and prices drop automatically,” he argued.
He stressed the need for Europe to increase gas production until it reaches full decarbonization.
“We should not rush too much in moving away from domestic production, because that places Europe in a position of non-competitiveness. Technology will gradually reduce energy use and improve environmental protection. Meanwhile, Europe still has untapped gas deposits, including in Poland. Building alliances and signing long-term contracts will also stabilize prices,” he added.
In his view, linking the energy sector with other areas—such as defense—could strengthen Europe’s stability. But he expressed skepticism toward EU-level common storage facilities if they come at the expense of national infrastructure.
“If the EU wants to build additional shared gas storage, that’s fine. But if it means Poland must limit its own expansion to fund joint projects elsewhere, I do not agree,” Obajtek concluded.
