12. 6. 91  Official Journal of the European Communities No L 147/37 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 31 May 1991 on the transit of natural gas through grids (91/296/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regad to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100a - thereof, . Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), In cooperation with the European Parliament (3, Having regard to thé opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas it is necessary to adopt measures with the aim of progressively establishing the internal market during the period ending 31 December 1992; whereas successive European Councils have recognized the need for a single internal market and, particularly in Rhodes, the need for a ' single energy market; Whereas completion of the internal market in energy in general, and more particularly in the natural gas sector, requires the development of a Community energy strategy that will be equal to the challenges of : — security of supply, — environmental protection ; Whereas there must be greater integration of the Euro- pean energy market if the single internal market is to be achieved ; whereas natural gas is an essential component of the Community’s energy balance ; () OJ No C 247, 28. 9. 1989, p. 6 and O] No C 268, 24. 10. 1990, p. 9. () OJ No C 231, 17. 9. 1990, p. 72 and OJ No C 129, 20. 5. 1991. ¢) OJ No C 75, 26. 3. 1990, p. 20. Whereas greater reliance on natural gas is desirable as part of diversification of energy sources ; Whereas the completion of the internal market for energy, more particularly in the natural gas sector, will take into account the objective of economic and social cohesion ; Whereas the objective of the internal natural gas market is to ensure greater profitability, compatibility with the environment and security of supplies by free trade, without unacceptable restrictions on competition ; whereas the specific characteristics of the natural gas sector must be taken into account if the pursuit of this objective is to be successful ; Whereas in completing the internal market in natural gas, consideration should be given not only to comparable features in the Member States but equally to sometimes significant differences ; Whereas trade in natural gas between the high-pressure gas transmission grids of European countries is increasing from year to year and has implications in terms of invest- ment ; whereas the Community’s security of natural gas supply could be improved and costs reduced by operating the interconnections required for such trade; Whereas the exchange of natural gas between high- pressure gas transmission grids is being conducted on such a scale that the transactions requested and their consequences should be systematically known to the Commission ; Whereas it is possible and desirable to increase natural gas transfers between grids and also take account of the imperatives of security and quality of natural gas supply;