Regional coordination and solidarity are the backbone of the Energy Community Treaty. The regional concept forms by no means a standalone goal. There rather is a common understanding of the region’s needs. This is based on the acknowledgement that regional coordination is the only feasible solution for gaining synergy effects for the small and only partially connected emerging energy markets of the region. In the given geographic set up, the Treaty’s goals of attracting investment, enhancing security of supply, improving the environmental situation and creating market liquidity – all for the benefit of customers – can only be reached when taking regionally coordinated action.
At the 8th Ministerial Council, held in Skopje in 2010, Serbian minister for mining and energy, tabled a proposal for a regional strategy. The ministers welcomed Serbia’s initiative and invited the Secretariat, in consultation with all Contracting Parties, to develop a more concrete proposal for their analysis. The approach towards drafting such a document was discussed with Serbia as initiator during the “Day of Serbia” event on 31 Jan 2011 in Vienna.
The draft document was presented for discussions at the 21st PHLG meeting on 29 Jun 2011. The PHLG agreed on a two-step approach, including the preparation of a "concept paper on guidelines for establishment of a regional strategy", to be submitted to the following Ministerial Council, and the setting up of a task force with the mandate of elaborating a regional strategy. In its conclusions, the 9th Ministerial Council took note of the Secretariat's concept and approved the establishment of a Regional Energy Strategy Task Force.
CONTENT
The Strategy – page describes the Energy Community’s work for the preparation of the regional strategy. The page on the Task Force outlines the mandate, composition and tasks of the new Energy Strategy Task Force.
