The Commission opens infringement proceedings against Belgium concerning its gas transit system

The European Commission decided on 8 October 2009 to commence infringement proceedings against Belgium as the Belgian Law of 10 March 2009 which lays down exemptions for natural gas transit contracts infringes Community law establishing an internal market in natural gas. Since 2004 under Community law the concept of transit has ceased to exist and all transmission of natural gas is now subject to the setting of tariffs to be determined by the independent regulatory authority of each Member State.