The region’s parliamentarians met with social partners, international financial institutions, NGOs and the European Commission on 11-12 October to discuss challenges facing the restructuring of the energy sector, and the implications of the proposed Energy Community South East Europe (ECSEE).

The event, which was addressed among others by Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, discussed the costs and benefits of creating an ECSEE zone, including its implications for state budgets and employment.  Delegates also examined the technical modernisation needed to ensure the security of energy supply in the region, as well as the reforms necessary to harmonise legislation with the EU’s acquis communautaire.

“The common energy market provides a unique opportunity for countries of the region to accelerate their integration into the EU’s internal energy market, and to access the benefits currently available only to EU member states,” said Stability Pact Special Representative Erhard Busek, adding that the ECSEE market would enable the flow of the much needed investment into the energy sector, and would significantly reduce the overall costs of modernisation.

As the first in a series of conferences planned to be held on this subject, the conference was organised under the auspices of the South East European Co-operation Process (SEECP) and the Stability Pact, with co-financing from the European Commission’s CARDS programme.  It was attended by over a hundred participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, fYR of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, UNMIK/Kosovo, Turkey, as well as representatives of the observers to the future ECSEE treaty.

Negotiations on the draft ECSEE treaty between the European Commission and the participating governments are beginning today (13 October) in Brussels.  The treaty will be a legally binding document, replacing two Memoranda of Understanding signed earlier by governments of the region.

The parties hope to reach agreement on the text of the treaty by the end of 2004, and open electricity and gas markets between 2005 and 2007.  In the course of the process, SEE governments would adopt all relevant EU directives on energy and environment.

For further information, please write to press@stabilitypact.org.

Attachment:   The official press release of the conference organisers