• Reviewing draft national acts transposing the security of supply regulations and providing feedback to the respective Contracting Parties.

• Convening the Security of Supply Coordination Group on a regular basis and sharing relevant information received from competent authorities, while ensuring the confidentiality of commercially sensitive data.

• Reviewing Preventive Action Plans and Emergency Plans, and issuing an Opinion and Recommendation to the respective Contracting Party within four months of receipt, taking into account the views expressed by the Security of Supply Coordination Group.

• Adopting, by 15 November (2022, 2023, 2024), a Decision on the storage filling trajectory, including intermediary targets for February, May, July, and September of the following year.

• Continuously monitors gas security of supply measures in the Contracting Parties and reports regularly to the Security of Supply Coordination Group, the Permanent High Level Group, and the Ministerial Council.

• Monitors gas storage filling trajectories and targets, and develops guidance on appropriate corrective measures in cases where Contracting Parties deviate from the trajectories or fail to meet the targets.

• Submits an annual report to the Ministerial Council by 1 June 2023 and every year thereafter, containing:

  • an overview of measures taken by Contracting Parties to meet their storage obligations;

  • an overview of the time required for the certification of storage system operators;

  • a summary of measures requested by the Energy Community Secretariat to ensure compliance with filling trajectories and targets;

  • an analysis of the potential impact of the regulation on gas prices and possible gas savings.
     

• Within five days of receiving the information from the Competent Authority on the crisis level whether the declaration of an emergency is justified in accordance with the Regulation and whether the measures taken follow as closely as possible the actions listed in the emergency plan and are not imposing an undue burden on natural gas undertakings
• Convening the Security of Supply Coordination Group if deemed necessary
• Coordinating the action of the competent authorities, pursuant to this Regulation, inter alia, through the Security of Supply Coordination Group
• Supporting the Contracting Parties in communication with all relevant stakeholders

Legal & Institutional Requirements

• Notify the definition of protected customers, their annual gas consumption, and the percentage of total final gas consumption they represent.

• Establish and notify a national Competent Authority.

• Transpose Regulation 2017/1938 into national legislation.

Storage Obligations

• For Contracting Parties with underground storage: Fill storage facilities to 80–90% of working volumes or equivalent to 35% of average consumption over the past five years (if storage equals annual demand).

• For Contracting Parties without storage: Ensure agreements securing access to storage volumes equal to at least 15% of five-year average annual gas consumption.

Filling Trajectories

• Draft and submit filling trajectories with intermediary targets for February, May, July, and September of the following year.

• Update and submit these trajectories annually.

Risk Assessments and Emergency Planning

• Submit national Risk Assessments and update them every four years or as needed.

• Submit and publish Preventive Action Plans and Emergency Plans, updating every four years or as needed.

• Review and amend plans following feedback from the Energy Community Secretariat or provide justifications for any disagreements.

Emergency Procedures and Reporting

• Declare crisis levels (early warning, alert, or emergency) as needed and immediately inform the Energy Community Secretariat and connected Contracting Parties with relevant information.

• Provide a detailed post-emergency assessment within six weeks, including economic impacts, electricity sector effects, and cross-border assistance, to inform future planning.