The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, will launch a plan on Wednesday for European solidarity in the event that the gas supply to member states is endangered.

Solidarity on the gas markets is a component of the so-called green book for a European energy policy, entitled "A secure, competitive and sustainable energy policy for Europe.

The newspaper quoted a memorandum from the Dutch ministry of economic affairs as reporting that the Dutch government does not like the idea of handing over some of its control over its gas reserves in order to serve European solidarity.

"Member states should remain responsibly for the management of their own energy sources, including emergency reserves," the memorandum reads.

European solidarity in the event that gas imports to one or more member states is stopped, is extremely topical. In January various member states had to deal with brief gas shortages when Russia suspended gas exports to Ukraine in order to pressure this country to pay more for delivery.

Gas pipelines delivering the bulk of Russia's supply to the EU run through Ukraine. In total Russia provides about 20 per cent of the total European gas consumption.

In order to guarantee the supply of gas, the Commission is considering building up an emergency gas reserve. The EU member states already have such a system in place for oil. The member states keep an emergency reserve that can provide for 90 days of use.

The green book is intended for discussion by EU government leaders at their summit meeting on 23 and 24 this month.

The plan should result in concrete proposals by March next year at the latest. It also goes in further detail into the relationship between general foreign policy and energy policy, the energy mix, energy efficiency, energy research and completion of the internal energy market.