Energy Community's 22nd Ministerial Council accelerates integration with the EU Electricity Market
Today in Vienna, the Energy Community's 22nd Ministerial Council brought together Ministers and high-level representatives from across the region to set priorities for 2025.
Among the key outcomes was the adoption of a recommendation to accelerate renewable energy deployment and the approval of the inaugural list of Projects of Energy Community Interest. These initiatives will help Contracting Parties advance their integration into the EU’s single electricity market.
The meeting was opened by Staša Košarac, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina and holder of the Energy Community Presidency this year, alongside European Commissioner for Energy & Housing Dan Jørgensen and Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Deputy Director General of DG ENER.
Electricity Integration Package (EIP)
The Ministerial Council stressed the importance of transposing the EIP as a key step towards integrating Contracting Parties' electricity markets with the EU. It urged finalisation of the overdue EIP transposition and implementation, supported by the Secretariat, in Q1 2025.
European Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, highlighted the unique opportunity for Contracting Parties to benefit from the EU’s internal electricity market before accession, recalling the unwavering support from the EU and the new momentum for enlargement.
Director Artur Lorkowski reinforced the Commissioner’s message by saying, “The Electricity Integration Package offers an accelerated integration with the EU markets now, paving the way for stronger EU accession prospects for our region.”
Submitting the Market Coupling Operator Integration Plan (MCO IP), aligning day-ahead and intraday market operations, was highlighted as essential for joining the Single Day-Ahead Coupling (SDAC) and Single Intraday Coupling (SIDC) mechanisms, ensuring efficient cross-border energy flows.
Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECI)
The Council adopted the 2024 PECI list, the first one of its kind, concluding a rigorous selection process that sets the stage for transformative energy investments to enhance infrastructure, promote regional integration, and attract further investment. The Ministerial Council will update the PECI list every two years to ensure alignment with the region’s priorities.
Decarbonisation and Carbon Pricing
The Contracting Parties have made progress in decarbonising their energy sectors, finalising National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) to guide 2030 targets and attract key investments.
Deputy Director General of DG CLIMA, Jan Dusík presented the climate and economic benefits of introducing carbon pricing in the Contracting Parties, which can also prepare for accession to the EU.
Looking ahead, the Ministerial Council urged Contracting Parties to analyse the presented carbon pricing scenarios and indicate their preferences to the European Commission and Secretariat ahead of next year’s Informal Ministerial Council. This input shall inform a proposal for Decarbonisation Roadmap update that will also include the commitment to climate neutrality by 2050, with a view of possible adoption in 2025.
Finally, the Ministerial Council welcomed Greece's invitation to host the 20th anniversary of the Energy Community Treaty in Athens on 17 July 2025, alongside the annual informal meeting.
