Soundings among member states

Date: 18/07/1996

have revealed that they are keen to press ahead with liberalisation of the gas market. At a Council of Ministers' working group meeting on energy markets this week, the Irish presidency stressed its determination to begin negotiations on liberalising the gas sector as soon as possible. Several member states came out against the French idea of a 'single buyer' - under which the national grid maintains control of buying and selling gas - and supported more open access. Energy Commissioner Christos Papoutsis said he would seek views from across the board before putting forward a compromise proposal in the autumn.