17/12/2004
New European Energy Community Established

Ministers and representatives from the 25 EU member states and 11 countries of South East Europe, including Turkey, agreed in Athens this week to establish an Energy Community for the whole of Europe. This will create a single regulatory space for energy in the European peninsula and will reinforce security of supply. It will also help South East European countries to address energy poverty issues with the aim of providing power to all citizens at an affordable price. While a number of issues remain to be resolved, all delegations expect to sign an EnergyTreaty by next summer. Such a Treaty would give a strong political signal to South East Europe encouraging further European integration in other sectors.

“The progressive integration of South East Europe, including Turkey, into the European Union energy markets, on reciprocal conditions in terms of trade and environment, benefits the whole of Europe, ” said the energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs. A lot of work has been done since the Athens Conference in 2002 and this represents a major step forward in bringing lasting stability and growth to the region, as well as its progressive integration into the European Union.”