National Prospects in the Down of the Internal Gas Market

This chapter summarizes the changes in the national gas markets. The aim of this analysis is to compare national developments, to trace patterns in gas market development in Europe, and to assess the prospects of national positions in the emerging competitive internal gas market in Europe. This chapter comparatively analyzes the major developments in terms of structure, technology, and performance of gas markets in Europe, and focuses on functional developments in the European gas market. Prospects for further opening of national gas markets and the introduction of competition in these markets are quite promising when looking at the reforms and business dynamics thus far. The short-term prospects to relieve the political and institutional barriers are not that promising because their settlement touches the most sensitive issues such as national autonomy and national identity. The next step in the process to establish a competitive internal gas market in Europe needs to be decided at a national level, by national governments, national regulators, and national system operators.