15.7.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 176/11 DECISION No 1229/2003/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 26 June 2003 laying down a series of guidelines for trans-European energy networks and repealing Decision No 1254/96/EC THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular the first paragraph of Article 156 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (%), Having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (2), Having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions (?), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: (1)  Since the adoption of Decision No 1254/96EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 1996 laying down a series of guidelines for trans-European energy networks (°), the need has arisen to incorporate new priorities, to highlight the projects which are particularly important, to update the list of projects, and to adapt the procedure used for identifying projects. () The new priorities stem from the creation of a more open and competitive internal energy market, as a result of the implementation of Directive 96/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity (®) and of Directive 98/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas (7). They follow the conclusions of the Stockholm European Council of ) OJ C 151 E, 25.6.2002, p. 207. ( (%) OJ C 241, 7.10.2002, p. 146. () OJ C 278, 14.11.2002, p. 35. (% Opinion of the European Parliament of 24 October 2002 (not yet published in the Official Journal), Council Common Position of 6 February 2003 (O] C 64 E, 18.3.2003, p. 22) and Decision of the European Parliament of 4 June 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 16 June 2003. () OJ L 161, 29.6.1996, p. 147. Decision as last amended by Decision No 1741/1999/EC (OJ L 207, 6.8.1999, p. 1). (® OJ L 27, 30.1.1997, p. 20. () OJ L 204, 21.7.1998, p. 1. March 2001 concerning the development of the infrastructures needed for the operation of the energy market. A special effort should be undertaken to achieve the objective of making greater use of renewable energy sources as a contribution to furthering a sustainable development policy. (3)  As a rule the construction and maintenance of energy infrastructure should be subject to market principles. This is also in line with the Commission proposals for the completion of the internal market in energy and the common rules on competition law which aim at the creation of a more open and competitive internal energy ~market. Community financial aid for construction and maintenance should therefore remain highly exceptional. These exceptions should be duly justified. (4)  Energy infrastructure should be constructed and maintained so as to enable the internal energy market to operate efficiently, without detracting from strategic and, where appropriate, universal service criteria. The priorities also stem from the growing importance of the trans European energy networks for diversifying the Community’s gas supplies, incorporating the candidate countries’ energy networks, and ensuring the coordinated operation of the electricity grids in Europe and the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins. (5)  Among the projects relating to trans-European energy networks, it is necessary to highlight the priority projects, which are very important for the operation of the internal energy market or the security of energy supply. (6) It is necessary to adapt the procedure for identifying projects relating to trans-European energy networks in order to ensure the harmonious application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995 laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks (%). (7  The procedure for identifying projects relating to trans-European energy networks should be adapted by (®) OJ L 228, 23.9.1995, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1655/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council (O] L 197, 29.7.1999, p. 1).