ENERGY TREATY BETWEEN THE EU AND SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE
On 25 October 2005 a Treaty y establishing the Energy Community between the EU and South Eastern Europe has been signed. Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro and and the Special Representative of the Secretary General on behalf of the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo have therefore take a step towards full integration of their energy markets into the EU energy market.
-
The text of the Treaty is available by clicking here
-
The scanned pages with the signatures can be viewed by clinking Page 1 and Page 2
-
The exchange of letters between the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Council of the EU on the adherence to the Treaty can be viewed here: Letter 1 and Letter 2
Background information:
Energy Week – Skopje
6-10 June 2005
The Energy Week started with the Parliamentarian Conference on 6 and 7 June, and continued with the (Athens) Electricity Forum on 9 and 10 June.
Parliamentarians from the South Eastern Europe countries met in Skopje on 6 and 7 June 2005 in order to discuss the opportunities and challenges raised by the Energy Community Treaty. The delegations were composed of MPs from European and foreign policy committees, as well as parliamentary committees dealing with energy issues.
The Parliamentary initiative to participate to and actively support implementation of the EC Treaty, which found its expression in this Conference, was recognized as an excellent example of regional ownership and cooperation. In order to improve the parliamentary procedure of the ratification of the EC Treaty, parliamentarians will create an informal network for cooperation and use the proposed structure of a Balkan COSAC. They could jointly develop road maps for the parliamentary tasks involved, checklists for the implementation of the acquis communautaire and a communication strategy to explain to the public the Treaty and the challenges it raises.
On 8 June, the Generation Investment Study (GIS), funded by the European Union and prepared under the supervision of the World Bank, was presented, outlining the scale of investments required in the SEE energy sector by 2020, on the basis of assumptions on energy demand in the region and suggesting ways in which the potential generation investments could be prioritised.
The two-day (Athens) Electricity Forum had, as main points on its agenda, institutional compliance, internal market issues and the market design in South Eastern Europe. An Action Plan for all the countries involved until the full implementation of the Energy Community were also discussed.
Per capita primary energy consumption of SEE countries is about half of that in more developed European countries. However, consumption per unit output is two to three times the OECD-average, which illustrates the inefficient supply and use of energy. Furthermore, prevailing high energy intensities constitute economic and environmental liabilities.
The Athens Process - Creating a Regional Energy Market
In Athens on 15 November 2002, the SEE countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzogovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, FYR of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey and UNMIK have committed themselves to create a Regional Electricity Market and to introduce European Union Standards in their National Energy Sectors, including the establishment of independent electricity regulatory agencies, by mid 2005. European Commission and Stability Pact sponsor as non-participating members the so-called Athens Memorandum of Understanding on the Regional Electricity Market in South Eastern Europe and its Integration into the European Union Internal Electricity Market (see the Memorandum of Understanding).
Observers are Austria, Hungary, Moldova and Slovenia.
In 2003 it was decide that the Memorandum of Understanding would revised to include the gas sector. The decision of principle has also been taken that the MoU would eventually be transformed into a legally binding international agreement.
Upcoming and Recent events
-
-
Progress Report on Regional Energy Co-operation: "Negotiating an Energy Community for Europe", 18 November 2004
-
-
Conference: "Towards an Energy Community of South Eastern Europe", Bucharest, 11-12 October 2004
-
Presentation: Athens Process, creating an Energy Community of SEE. Strategic Investment in SEE Gas & Power; Belgrade, July 1-2; 2004.
-
-
-
-
USAID/EBRD workshop
-
-
2nd Industry Round Table
-
Market Design Study
-
Generation Investment Study
-
Donor Meeting
-
5th Permanent High Level Group
-
2nd High Level Political Meeting of Senior Advisors to the Prime Ministers of SEE countries
-
3rd Athens Forum
-
-
Donors Meeting, Brussels, 17 September 2003
-
-
Verband der Elektrizitätswirtschaft Österreichs, Vienna, July 2003
High Level Political Meeting of Senior Advisors to the Prime Ministers of SEE countries, Vienna, 3rd June 2003
-
-
First Industry Round Table, Prague, 21 February 2003 (see conclusions)
Signatory Ministerial Council, Athens, 15 November 2002
 |
Documents |
Leading Institutions
Associated Working Groups and Task Forces
For further information,
please Contact:
Regional Cooperation Council
Trg Bosne i Hercegovine 1 / V
71000 Sarajevo
Bosna i Hercegovina
Phone +387 33 561 700
Fax +387 33 561 701
|
RSS feeds
