The conflicts of the 1990s led to the disintegration of a unified energy system that stretched from the Adriatic to the Black and Aegean Seas. What was once a single system is now a patchwork of several. Regardless of the frontiers drawn on maps since the conflict erupted, the separate entities still rely on each other for the smooth functioning of their power supplies.
Thus, the South East European region needed a framework in which it can cooperate on rebuilding its energy networks, ensure the stability vital for investment, and create the conditions in which its economies can be rebuilt effectively. A regional approach to energy security offers significant advantages both in terms of improved utilisation of existing supply and production capacities as well as optimising future investments. The raison d’être of the Energy Community is to facilitate this process. Ultimately it will also support the integration of the region into the internal energy market of the European Community.
CONTENT
This section tries to bring closer the overall process of the Energy Community. After facts and figures, the page on process outlines the historical milestones resulting in the establishment of the Energy Community. A comprehensive legal framework accompanies the process of Energy Community. The respective section gives details on legally binding documents. Whilst the subsection on stakeholders throws light into the key actors involved in the process, institutions describes the institutional setting in which the Energy Community is embedded. The section also describes the Energy Community dispute settlement mechanism. The last subsection, profiles, provides statistical information about the seven Contracting Parties.
