Two groups in the European Parliament – the European United Left-Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) and the Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF) – tabled a request on April 18 for a plenary vote on a request to allow the Industry Committee to start talks with EU ministers on a draft directive on the EU market for natural gas.
The European Parliament is also slated to vote on April 19 on a separate but similar request. This one will allow the Industry Committee to start talks with ministers on the draft regulation on European business statistics.
According to a European Parliament press release, both requests will need a simple majority to pass. However, if the European Parliament rejects the committee’s requests to start talks, its reports will be placed on the agenda for the following part-session in May with a deadline for amendments.
The Industry Committee approved its draft report on the gas market rules, which was prepared by Jerzy Buzek (EPP, PL). It also approved its request for a mandate to open inter-institutional negotiations.
It is also worth noting that Committee MEPs tabled 142 amendments, which were boiled down to 14 compromise amendments. Five amendments advocated rejecting the Commission proposal.
