“Flexibility without compromising energy security” — this is how Members of the European Parliament describe a new proposal to update EU regulations on gas storage ahead of the winter season. The initiative aims to slightly lower the required storage threshold and extend the timeframe for meeting storage targets, in order to reduce market speculation and help lower gas prices.
Last week, the European Parliament approved the European Commission’s proposal to extend the EU gas storage system until the end of 2027. Under the current rules adopted in 2022, the system was set to expire at the end of this year. MEPs introduced several amendments aimed at easing market tensions, citing how the mandatory 90% fill rate by November 1 was driving up prices during the summer replenishment period.
“We’re proposing modest but meaningful changes to the existing rules that can improve the way the market functions,” said Borys Budka, MEP from Poland’s Civic Platform and rapporteur of the project. “Firstly, we suggest extending the time window for fulfilling storage obligations so that the market doesn’t know the exact purchase date — this helps avoid price spikes during transaction finalizations. Secondly, we’re giving Member States greater leeway in how they fill their storage sites, without imposing strict monthly purchase schedules.”
Key Proposals: More Flexibility, Lower Thresholds
Under the new proposal, Member States would be allowed to reach the target storage level anytime between October 1 and December 1 each year. The required fill level would be reduced from 90% to 83%, with a margin of flexibility of up to 4 percentage points in cases of adverse market conditions, such as supply disruptions or demand surges. The European Commission would be able to authorize an additional 4% deviation if these conditions persist. However, reserves must not fall below 75%.
“The European Commission will have the tools needed to monitor gas storage levels in real time,” Budka added. “These proposed rules are sufficient to ensure the EU’s energy security while also helping citizens feel the benefits through lower gas prices.”
Negotiations with the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU will now begin, with the first round of talks scheduled for May 13.
MEPs Also Push for a Full Embargo on Russian Gas
In addition to storage flexibility, MEPs called for a complete ban on Russian gas, urging Member States not to stockpile gas of Russian origin.
“I welcome the European Commission’s clear statement that our collective goal must be complete independence from Russian gas. Eliminating this fuel source is essential so that Putin can never again blackmail Europe,” said Budka. “European solidarity — countries helping one another, especially those with large storage capacity — is also a key part of our security. We’ve shown that unity is more important than money.”
EU Pushes Forward with Full Energy Independence
The European Commission recently published a roadmap to fully cut ties with Russian energy, including oil, gas, and nuclear fuels. The roadmap outlines measures to ensure energy supply security while limiting market and price impacts.
Progress has already been significant:
- Russian gas imports dropped from 150 bcm in 2021 to 52 bcm in 2024, with market share falling from 45% to 19%.
- Russian coal imports have been fully banned.
- Oil imports from Russia fell from 27% in early 2022 to just 3% today.
- Countries using Russian-designed WWER nuclear reactors are making progress toward sourcing alternative nuclear fuels.
“We’ve built new ports, connected countries with new infrastructure, and are steadily eliminating our dependency on Russian energy. The same will happen with other fuels,” said Budka. “It’s vital that EU countries act together, with the European Commission coordinating efforts. Only through unity and synergy will we achieve our energy independence goals.”
