Speech Piebalgs in Tirana over het opzetten van een Energie-gemeenschap in Zuidoost-Europa (en)

Andris PIEBALGS

European Commissioner for Energy




Energy Community is a key to the stabilisation and development of South East Europe

High Level EBRD Southeast Europe Regional Energy Seminar
Tirana, 10 February 2005

Prime Minister,

President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure and an honour for me to be here today in Tirana. This is my first visit to Albania - the country of eagles. By hosting this important seminar, Albania demonstrates its commitment to play a full role in the region. In this context, I would like to thank Prime Minister Nano for supporting this event.

May I also express my gratitude to the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Mr Lemierre, for inviting me. I very much appreciate the work the EBRD has done so far to make the Energy Community of South East Europe become a reality. This seminar, the third of its kind, will allow to identify outstanding problems in the energy sector that need particular attention and action. I have no doubt that the exchange of ideas today and tomorrow will substantially contribute to improving the situation.

The South East Europe Energy initiative was one of the first issues I dealt with, following my appointment as Member of the European Commission. Last December, I chaired the ministerial meeting of the Athens process, which further discussed the establishment of an Energy Community in the region. I was pleased to see how committed all countries concerned are towards the ECSEE, and how much political will there is on their part. The negotiations on the Treaty were conducted in a very fruitful and constructive manner. It is time now to turn the page and give people here, and elsewhere in south-east Europe, reasons for optimism.

I. I see the Energy Community as a key to the stabilisation and development of South East Europe.

Like the European Coal and Steel Community, the forerunner organisation of today's European Union, the South East Europe Energy Community has two main objectives: one is political, the other is economical.

The political objective is clear: an enhanced cooperation among the countries in this region will foster the conditions for peace, stability and growth. Experience in western Europe has shown that, by working together, people can become more familiar with one another and make conflicts impossible, if not unthinkable.

The economic objective is the establishment of an integrated market in natural gas and electricity, based on common solidarity. As it was already pointed out, this region suffers from a number of deficiencies: lack of energy sources, inadequate infrastructure for transporting energy, disruption of electricity supply, absence of competition, and serious environmental problems, to name only a few.

Bearing in mind that energy is a key to social well-being and is also a key to economic growth and to industrialisation, it is logical to start with the establishment of an integrated energy community in the region. For this to happen, the right conditions for attracting investment must be in place. An environment friendly to investors is essential. It will allow investment in much needed areas, notably in power generation and transmission networks.

If there is enough investment, there will be jobs. In turn, social and industrial development will help to ensure stability and security.

The establishment of an integrated energy market also seeks to improve security of supply. The idea is that the Energy Community will provide a stable regulatory framework on the basis of which connections to the Caspian, North African and Middle East gas reserves can be developed and local reserves of gas and coal can be exploited.

II. The adoption of the Treaty will also mean the implementation of the EU acquis communautaire concerning energy, and in particular it will:

• permit compatible and consistent implementation of basic operational standards in this region,
• allow the introduction of the Public Service Obligation, as defined in the EU acquis, and it would help to tackle the difficult social situation of vulnerable groups in society,
• it will also improve the environmental situation in relation to network energy market and related energy efficiency, and foster the use of renewable energy.

The Commission will do its utmost to help all countries concerned implement the necessary measures once the Treaty comes into force.

III. Finally I would like to see where we stand in relation to the adoption of the Treaty.

Today, we are very close from having the ECSEE established thanks to the political support of all countries concerned, with the assistance of the EBRD and other international institutions.

I am confident that negotiations will be concluded very soon, so that the draft Treaty can be initialled in March with a view to its signature this summer.

Ratification, and entry into force of the much awaited Treaty, should follow as soon as possible. It will be then time for implementation - not a small task. The Energy Community treaty will give you the political cover necessary for difficult decisions you may face.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

To conclude, I wish to stress once again the importance of establishing an Energy Community in South East Europe. It is important not only for the region, but also for the EU, in terms of stabilisation and development.

As Jean Monnet - one of the EU founders - said, Europe was not built in one day, but step-by-step. A Community in the field of energy is a step forward. It will lead to other steps and make Europe more unified.

Thank you for your attention. Faleminderit.