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1. Transmission system operators shall:

(a) offer capacity and services on a non-discriminatory basis to all network users;

(b) provide both firm and interruptible capacity; the price of interruptible capacity shall reflect the probability of interruption;

(c) offer to network users both long and short-term capacity. As regards the first subparagraph, point (a), where a transmission system operator offers the same service to different customers, it shall do so under equivalent contractual terms and conditions, either using harmonised transport contracts or a common network code approved by the regulatory authority in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 78 or 79 of Directive (EU) 2024/1788.

2. By 5 August 2025, the Commission shall:

(a) carry out an evaluation of the impact on the natural gas system of a tariff regime whereby no tariffs will be charged for access to transmission systems at interconnection points between Member States, or at interconnection points with third countries whose systems connect two or more Member States; and (b) submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council. That report may, where appropriate, be accompanied by legislative proposals to address the obstacles identified in the evaluation.

3. Transport contracts signed with non-standard start dates or with a shorter duration than a standard annual transport contract shall not result in arbitrarily higher or lower tariffs that do not reflect the market value of the service, in accordance with the principles laid down in Article 17(1).

4. Where two or more interconnection points connect the same two adjacent entry-exit systems, the adjacent transmission system operators concerned shall offer the available capacities at the interconnection points at one virtual interconnection point. Any contracted capacity at the interconnection points, regardless of the date of its conclusion, shall be transferred to the virtual interconnection point. A virtual interconnection point shall be established provided that the following conditions are met:

(a) the total technical capacity at the virtual interconnection points is equal to or higher than the sum of the technical capacities at each of the interconnection points contributing to the virtual interconnection points;

(b) the virtual interconnection point facilitates the economic and efficient use of the system including the rules laid down in Articles 10 and 11.

5. Where appropriate, third-party access services may be granted subject to appropriate guarantees from network users with respect to the creditworthiness of such users. Such guarantees shall not constitute undue market-entry barriers and shall be non-discriminatory, transparent and proportionate.

6. Transmission system operators shall, if necessary for the purpose of carrying out their functions including in relation to cross-border transmission, have access to the network of other transmission system operators.

7. Paragraphs 1 to 6 shall be without prejudice to the possibility for Member States to take proportionate measures to temporarily restrict natural gas supplies from the Russian Federation and Belarus, for a fixed term, which may be renewed if justified, by limiting up-front bidding for capacity by any single network user at entry points from the Russian Federation or Belarus, where that is necessary to protect their essential security interests and those of the Union, provided that such measures:

(a) do not unduly disrupt the proper functioning of the internal market for natural gas and cross-border flows of natural gas between Member States, and do not undermine the security of supply of the Union or of a Member State;

(b) respect the principle of energy solidarity;

(c) are taken in accordance with the rights and obligations of the Union and of the Member States with respect to third countries. Taking into account the need to ensure the security of supply of the Union, measures taken by Member States pursuant to the first subparagraph may aim to diversify natural gas supplies with a view to phasing out dependence on Russian natural gas, where it can be demonstrated that such measures are necessary to protect their essential security interests and those of the Union. Before deciding on a measure as referred to in the first subparagraph, the Member State concerned shall consult the Commission and, in so far as they are likely to be affected by the measure concerned, other Member States, the Energy Community Contracting Parties, third countries that are Contracting Parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Member State concerned shall take the utmost account of the situation in those Member States and third countries and any concerns raised in that respect by those Member States, third countries or the Commission.