Prior to the Energy Community Secretariat in the context of the Treaty, an interim Energy Community Secretariat was established as a non-profit association under Austrian law on 1 April 2005. Working on project basis, the association derived its financing from European Commission CARDS Programme. Its activities were regulated on the ground of a Grant Contract between Austrian Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labour and the European Commission.
 

1st February 2006 marked the commencement of the Secretariat’s operational activities. The official inauguration of the Secretariat took place on 26 June 2006. In August 2007, the Agreement between Republic of Austria and the Energy Community regarding the Seat of the Secretariat of the Energy Community entered into force.
 

TASKS
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
REVIEWING, ASSISTING AND REPORTING

Tasks

The Treaty institutionalised the Secretariat as a permanent body with the seat in Vienna, Austria. With reference to Title V Chapter V, it is the Secretariat’s responsibility to:

1. provide administrative support to the Ministerial Council, the Permanent High Level Group, the Regulatory Board and the Fora;
2. review the proper implementation by the Parties of their obligations under this Treaty, and submit yearly progress reports to the Ministerial Council;
3. review and assist in the coordination by the European Commission of the donors’ activity in the territories of the Adhering Parties and the territory under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, and provide administrative support to the donors;
4. carry out other tasks conferred on it under this Treaty or by a Procedural Act of the Ministerial Council, excluding the power to take Measures; and
5. adopt procedural Acts.

In the performance of their duties the Director and the staff must be impartially and not seek or receive instructions from any party of the Treaty. 

 

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Administrative Support

Pursuant to Article 67 par. 1, the Secretariat assists the preparation of all institutional meetings within the process of Energy Community. The Secretariat also organises numerous conferences and workshops on policy issues that relate to the acquis. These include social issues, energy efficiency, environment and competition. Annually more than 40 events are being registered into the Energy Community event calendar.
 

In addition to logistical support, the Secretariat prepares and drafts the key meeting documents.

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Reviewing, assisting and reporting

With reference to Article 67 par. 2, it is the Secretariat’s task to review the implementation process. This entails drafting of report templates applicable for all Contracting Parties. Having agreed on the common template, the Contracting Parties report the Secretariat about the reform steps at national level. Based on this information the Secretariat then prepares progress reports for each Contracting Party.

Sometime the Secretariat also conducts policy issue specific country missions to the Contracting Parties. The Secretariat provides regular updates to the PHLG about the implementation process.

There also are special reports monitoring the process at regional level. The Secretariat additionally provides the European Commission an annual report on its activities.

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