Crossing borders in European gas networks: The missing links

EU indigenous gas production is in decline and imports will grow. A liberalized gas market is expected to develop, leading to new movements of gas. Security of Supply has moved up on the policy agenda. Accommodation of these developments requires a significant expansion of the current EU 'interstate' natural gas transmission network in the coming decade. This study analyzes the main impediments to the development of these cross border connections. It focuses on those concrete situations in which market players have not only expressed an interest, but also the willingness to pay for new pipeline capacity. It offers recommendations for regulatory and coordination issues to overcome these problems.