Informal Energy Community meeting concludes successfully in Athens

The informal ministerial council of the Energy Community, celebrating its 20th anniversary, concluded its works at Zappeion Hall on Thursday.

In the context of the event, Environment & Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou welcomed European Commissioner for Energy & Housing Dan Jorgensen, Director of Secretariat of the Energy Community Artur Lorkowski, and the energy & environment ministers of Energy Community Treaty states.

Addressing the event, Minister Papastavrou said that 16 ministers and alternate ministers from 10 signatory states attended the event. He expressed optimism due to the commitment of treaty members for linking energy markets and said members should be proud of becoming independenct of Russian natural gas. He warned however that they "have a long road ahead in terms of electric energy." The gap must be closed, he said, for the benefit of citizens and the region.

Commissioner Jorgensen spoke of the war in Ukraine and Russia's targeting of Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The European Union is conveying a message to Russia, he said, that it will not allow energy to be used as an instrument against it or contribute even indirectly to Russia's war fund, therefore the EU is in the process of banning the import of Russian natural gas. "I have already tabled relevant proposals that are now being negotiated at the European Parliament and Council."

Energy Community representative Lorkowski said that "Greece is not simply a host today. Greece is also the window of these countries to the LNG market, through the infrastructure developed. It is also the access point for the unified European electric energy system." Only through close cooperation will renewable energy sources (RES) be incorporated in the system and guarantee that power failures do not occur, he said, adding that talks for price lists and pollutant reduction will continue, as will discussion on RES.

The Energy Community is an international organization of EU and other countries set up to create an integrated regional energy market. The Energy Community Treaty was signed in Athens in October 2005 and entered into force in July 2006. 

 

See also:

Papastavrou: Time for action toward the integration of the electricity market

 

(Photo, L to R: Papastavrou, Jorgensen, Lorkowski)

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