The European Commission has proposed a Council Decision establishing the EU position to adopt, within the EEA Joint Committee, an amendment to Annex IV (Energy) of the EEA Agreement. The amendment would incorporate Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/703 on a network code for interoperability and data exchange rules for gas transmission systems. The proposal, published on 27 July 2026 under reference COM(2026)390, would bring the EEA framework in line with EU gas market rules, but exempts the three EEA EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) from full application of the homogeneity principle, justified by the absence of existing relevant gas networks in those countries.
The EEA Joint Committee is expected to adopt the amendment by consensus, and its decisions are binding on the parties. The legal basis for the EU position is Article 95 TFEU, in conjunction with Article 218(9) TFEU and Article 1(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94. The Decision would enter into force on the date of its adoption.
The proposal has no prior coverage in the last 180 days, marking a new step in extending EU energy network rules to the European Economic Area. The incorporation of Regulation 2015/703 aims to ensure consistent technical and operational rules for cross-border gas flows, facilitating market integration and security of supply. The exemption for EFTA states reflects their limited gas infrastructure, avoiding unnecessary regulatory burden.
EU gas transmission system operators (TSOs) would benefit from harmonised rules across the EEA, reducing compliance costs for cross-border operations. EEA EFTA states without gas networks face no new obligations, preserving their regulatory autonomy. EU consumers and businesses could see improved gas market efficiency and security of supply as interoperability standards are extended. The European Commission and EU member states would gain a more unified regulatory framework for gas markets, though the exemption creates a partial patchwork.
The Council is expected to adopt the Decision in due course, after which the EU will present the position to the EEA Joint Committee. The amendment will then be formally incorporated into the EEA Agreement, subject to the committee's consensus.