Agreement on gas interconnector between Bulgaria and Serbia takes the Gas Ring concept one step further
Today, the Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria, Traycho Traykov, and the Minister of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia, Petar Škundrić, signed in the presence of Director-General of DG Energy, Philip Lowe, a joint statement paving the way for the planned gas interconnector project between Bulgaria and Serbia in Brussels, Belgium. The Joint Statement is an expression of the commitment of both governments to the Serbia-Bulgaria gas pipeline. It outlines the concrete next steps of the project and invites the assistance of the European Commission and the International Financial Institutions in preparation of the project and related studies.
On 3 March Mr. Plamen Popov, Managing Director of Statkraft South East Europe and Mr. Simen Braein and Mr. Stephane Barbeau from Statkraft AS Norway paid a visit to the Secretariat. Statkraft’s involvement in the South East Europe region and its assessment of the state of play stood at the centre of discussions. Statkraft regularly takes part to the Athens Forum meetings.
Task Force debates the 2020 Renewable Energy Targets
Yesterday, the second Energy Community Renewable Energy Task Force discussed the final report of the “Study on the Implementation of the New EU Renewable Energy Directive in the Energy Community”. The 2020 RES target, as proposed by the study, for increasing the proportion of energy from renewable sources in the electricity, heat and transport sectors stood at the center of attention. Also, the challenges in relation to the possible implementation of the new EU renewable directive were at the top of the agenda.
The Energy Community presents itself to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
Yesterday Mr. Fatmir Besimi, Minister of Economy of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in his function as Presidency in Office together with Mr. Slavtcho Neykov, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, addressed the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Winter Session in Vienna.
Three Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministers discuss energy reforms with the Secretariat and EU
Yesterday a delegation led by Mr. Mladen Zirojevic, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, visited the Energy Community Secretariat. Minister Zirojevic was accompanied by Mr. Vahid Heco, Minister of the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry and Mr. Slobodan Puhalac, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Republika Srpska. Outstanding issues in the context of the obligations under the Energy Community Treaty and operational steps for improving the functioning of the energy sector in the country both on state and entity level stood at the centre of discussions.
