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The Energy Community extends the EU internal energy market to South East Europe and beyond on the ground of legally
binding framework. It thereby provides a stable investment environment based on the rule of law, and ties the Contracting
Parties together with the European Union. Through its actions, the Energy Community contributes to security of supply in
wider Europe.
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The general objective of the Energy Community is to create a stable regulatory and market framework in order to:
1. Attract investment in power generation and networks in order to ensure stable and continuous energy supply that is essential for economic development and social stability;
2. Create an integrated energy market allowing for cross-border energy trade and integration with the EU market;
3. Enhance the security of supply;
4. Improve the environmental situation in relation with energy supply in the region;
5. Enhance competition at regional level and exploit economies of scale.
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The Parties to the Treaty are the European Union, on the one hand, and seven Contracting Parties, namely, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. On 1 May 2010, also Moldova became the eight full fledged member of the Energy Community.
Georgia, Norway, Turkey and Ukraine take part as Observers. The technical negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine on full
membership were concluded in 2009. Whilst Moldova became a full ledged member as of 1 May 2010, Ukraine’s effective
membership is subject to concrete legislative amendments. As of May 2010, as many as 14 European Union Member States have the status of Participants.
Furthermore, international donors also contribute to the process. The Donors’ Community is chaired and coordinated by the
European Commission.
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The Contracting Parties have committed themselves to implement the relevant acquis communautaire, to develop a
adequate regulatory framework and to liberalise their energy markets in line with the acquis under the Treaty. The latter
includes key EU legal acts in the area of electricity, gas, environment and renewable energy. The Treaty envisages that the
main principles of EU competition policy are also applicable.
In addition and following the established procedures, the Contracting Parties took up the commitment to implement a set of
security of supply and energy efficiency related legislation. The acquis must be implemented
within a fixed time frame and is supported by concrete Action Plans. A common regional approach concerning oil, renewable energy and social dimension
of the energy reforms is as well being worked upon.
The implementation process is backed up by Dispute Settlement Procedures, which contribute to the enforcement of the
Energy Community legal framework.
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A strong institutional setting supports the process. This comprises Ministerial Council, Permanent High Level Group, Regulatory Board, four Fora and a Secretariat.
With its seat in Vienna, the Secretariat is the only permanently acting institution. It has currently a staff of 19 members,
representing 11 nationalities. It monitors and assists the implementation process. Further to the energy policy activities, it
provides administrative support to the other Energy Community institutions and organises annually some 50 events.
The biannual Energy Community Work Programme defines the framework, focus and deliverables of the work of the Secretariat.
All the Parties to the Treaty contribute to the Energy Community budget, out of which more than 98 % originates
from the European Union.
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 Facts and Figures about Energy Community
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