Regional Energy Market

Joint Declaration of the Ministers of the South East Europe Regional Energy Market

On the occasion of the Ministerial Council of the South East Europe Regional Energy Market on 8 December 2003 and the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding 2003, the signatory State Members and UNMIK* of the Regional Market make the following declaration.

The Regional Energy Market is an organisation formed through the will of its signatory State Members and UNMIK*, indicating their desire and capability to mutually and co-operatively manage and overcome the challenges that are faced collectively in the energy sector.

All signatory State Members and UNMIK*, irrespective of their formal designation in the Memorandum, are equal in status and obligation as regards the implementation of the Memorandum. The decisions made in constructing the Regional Energy Market are derived from the will of the signatory State Members and UNMIK*, particularly in basing the construction of the Regional Energy Market on an EU compatible model, but taking into account regional and local necessities in creating the market. To ensure this compatibility the signatory State Members and UNMIK* have associated the European Commission at a political level. Many discussions at a high level have underlined the need to appreciate local and regional issues.

The signatory State Members and UNMIK* observe with appreciation the close engagement and strong support of the EU which has had substantive contributions since the inception of the process. The continuation of this collaboration is essential, and assistance for the setting up of necessary mechanisms for the smooth functioning of the market is required for the success of the process.

* The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999

List of signatories:

For the Republic of Albania
Minister of Industry and Energetics, Viktor Doda

For Bosnia and Herzegovina
Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Dragan Doko

For the Republic of Bulgaria
Minister of Energy and Energy Resources, Milko Kovachev

For the Republic of Croatia
Ambassador of Croatia, Tatjana Kralj Draganic

For the Republic of Romania
State Secretary, Ministry of Economy and Trade, Iulian Iancu

For the Republic of Turkey
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Mehmet Hilmi Güler

For the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro
On behalf of the Member State of Serbia,
Deputy Minister of Mining and Energy, Nikola Nikolic

On behalf of the Member State of Montenegro,
Minister of Economy Darko Uskokovic

For the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Minister of Economy, Stevco Jakimovski

And on behalf of the Special Representative of the Secretary General, United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN, Nicholaus Graf Lambsdorff

For the Hellenic Republic
Minister of Development, Akis Tsohatzopoulos

For the Republic of Austria
Director General, Ministry of Economy/Labour, Bruno Zluwa

For the Republic of Hungary
Ambassador of Hungary, Csaba Kürösi

For the Republic of Italy
Ambassador of Italy, Gian Paolo Cavarai

For the Republic of Moldova
Minister of Energy, Iacob Timciuc

For the Republic of Slovenia
Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, Jozefa Puhar