The U.K. government sees no need for new pan-European regulations on shale gas drilling and expects the matter to be ultimately left up to individual states, said U.K. Energy Minster Charles Hendry Monday.

"We've got a robust regime in place that we believe is perfectly acceptable," for the regulation of the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing required to recover shale gas, Hendry said on the sidelines of a conference at think tank Chatham House. "We don't see the need for any additional tier of legislation in any way."

Discussions continue within EU regulatory bodies about whether new rules are needed on shale drilling, but in the end, "we'd expect it to be up to individual nations to decide how to manage that process," he said.

Industry advocates for shale gas have been concerned that the EU could impose environmental rules that might prevent shale gas development.

France and Bulgaria have already banned hydraulic fracturing, but other states such as Poland are keen to encourage development.

An EU-commissioned study released Friday concluded there is no need for new legislation to regulate shale gas exploration in the region, suggesting a cautious approach to the issue.

Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said the report "confirms that there is no immediate need for changing our EU legislation," according to a statement released by the Commission. "We take environmental concerns seriously and will continue to monitor the development of shale gas extraction in the EU."

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