25. 4. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 102/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 736/96 of 22 April 1996 on notifying the Commission of investment projects of interest to the Community in the petroleum, natural gas and electricity sectors THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 213 thereof, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 187 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parli- ament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas, for the sake of clarity, on the occasion of new amendments, it is necessary to reformulate Council Regu- lation (EEC) No 1056/72 of 18 May 1972 on notifying the Commission of investment projects of interest to the Community in the petroleum, natural gas and electricity sectors (¥); Whereas the introduction of a common energy policy is one of the objectives which the Community has set itself; whereas it is the task of the Commission to propose the measures to be taken for this purpose; Whereas the information gathered pursuant to the said Regulation is necessary for the Commission’s ongoing activities and whereas these data are the Commission’s only official source of information on developments in production, processing and transmission capacity in the electricity, petroleum and natural gas sectors; Whereas, after studying the communication made to it by the Commission on 18 December 1968 on initial guide- lines for a Community energy policy, the Council, during its 88th meeting held on 13 November 1969: — approved the basic principles of that communication in the light of the report from the Permanent Repre- sentatives Committee, — requested the Commission to put before it as soon as possible the most urgent concrete proposals in this field, — agreed to study these proposals as soon as possible in order to establish a Community energy policy; Whereas obtaining an overall picture of the development of investments in the Community is one feature of such a policy, in particular in order to enable the Community to make the necessary comparisons; Whereas the accomplishment of that task requires the most accurate information possible on investments; whereas, with regard to coal and atomic energy, underta- kings are under an obligation, pursuant to the Treaty esta- blishing the European Coal and Steel Community and the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, to notify their investment projects; whereas it is desirable to supplement such information with parti- culars relating to petroleum, natural gas and electricity; whereas, to this end, the Commission should be informed of investment projects which are of interest to the Community in the sectors concerned; Whereas, so that the Commission may carry out its task, it should also be informed in good time of any funda- mental alteration in such projects, in particular as regards the period required for carrying them out and the planned capacity; whereas, as a result, communication of such particulars is similarly indispensable; Whereas Member States should for this purpose commu- nicate to the Commission, with any comments they may have, particulars of investment projects concerning production, storage and distribution of petroleum, natural gas or electric power planned in their territory; whereas to this end the persons and undertakings concerned must be under an obligation to communicate to the Member State the information in question;