European gas trading volumes continued to grow in 2008 and the first half of 2009, especially in the Dutch and German markets. The UK market saw a slow-down during the financial crisis, and physical gas deliveries fell in almost all regions during winter 2008-09 as industrial demand declined.With the third legislative package now decided, Europe’s energy market regulators and transmission system operators are moving ahead with important new initiatives.Infrastructure projects are receiving a boost from national and EU responses to the curtailment of Russian gas supplies in January 2009.