EU External Energy Strategy defines Energy Community as instrument for ambitious energy and climate policies and market reforms

Published by the European Commission today, the new EU External Energy Strategy defines the Energy Community as the framework for promoting ambitious energy and climate policies and market reforms. The Strategy is part of the REPowerEU Plan that aims to end the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels and tackling the climate crisis and sets out how the EU will work together with its neighbours.

The Strategy recognizes the Energy Community’s role in supporting Ukraine in the wake of the Russian aggression including the procurement of emergency items via the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and supporting reforms for the future full integration of Ukraine’s energy market with the EU.

The European Commission announced the following key actions:

• take advantage of the Energy Community framework to encourage ambitious energy and climate targets and market reforms, as well as to boost renewables and energy efficiency;
• support the repair and reconstruction of energy infrastructure in Ukraine;
• facilitate the reverse flow of gas to Ukraine via the Slovak Republic, Hungary and Poland and to Moldova and Ukraine via Romania (Trans Balkan pipeline);
• invite Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and the Western Balkan countries to participate in the EU’s voluntary gas purchasing scheme;
• accelerate the domestic reforms and energy flagships of the Economic and Investment Plans for the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership, adjusted to the current situation, to speed up renewables’ deployment, ensure a green energy transition and help reduce dependency on Russian gas;
• launch the REPowerUkraine initiative to ensure energy supply and rebuilding the Ukrainian energy sector after the war.