13. 6. 75 Official Journal of the European Communities”™ No L 153/35 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 20 May 1975 obliging the Member States to maintain minimum stocks of fossil fuel at\v thermal power stations (75/339/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN - COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 103 thereof ; Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ; Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parlia- ment () ; Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2); Whereas the implementation of a Community energy policy is one of the objectives that the Communities have set themselves ; Whereas a regular and adequate supply of electricity is a fundamental condition for the existence and develop- ment of modern society, and whereas interruptions in electricity supplies would cause serious disruption to the vital activities of the Community ; Whereas in order to guarantee such supplies, it must be possible to produce electricity as and when the demand arises ; Whereas the fundamental condition for the contin- uous operation of power stations is the possession of sufficient quantities of primary energy; Whereas crises of supply may occur unexpectedly in the case of certain types of primary energy and it is (") OJ No C 85, 18. 7. 1974, p. 28. () O] No C 125, 16. 10. 1974, p. 14. therefore essential to take the necessary measures to alleviate the effects of such shortages ; Whereas it is necessary to reinforce security of supplies to power stations by building up and main- taining a minimum level of stocks on their premises ; Whereas the development of security of fuel supplies to power stations may necessitate a review of the minimum level of stocks in several years time, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 Member States shall take all appropriate measures by way of law, regulation or administrative action to oblige electricity producers to maintain, permanently, a minimum level of stocks of fossil fuel at their thermal power stations, which level shall be sufficient to ensure at all times the continuation of electricity supplies for a period of at least 30 days. The level of stocks specified in the first paragraph may be reduced by an amount corresponding to 25 % of the stocks of petroleum products built up at power stations pursuant to the rules laid down in Directive No 68/414/EEC (%), Decision No 68/416/EEC (*) and Directive No 72/425/EEC (°), and which are reserved for the exclusive use of such power stations. () OJ No L 308, 23. 12. 1968, p. 14. () OJ No L 308, 23. 12. 1968, p. 19. (5) OJ No L 291, 28. 12. 1972, p. 154.