Energy Community
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The Treaty establishing the Energy Community (also known as Energy Community South East Europe Treaty or ECSEE) was signed in Athens, Greece on October 25, 2005 and entered into force on July 1, 2006.
The treaty, which effectively sets up a European Energy Community, aims at establishing a single regulatory framework for trading energy across southeast Europe, was signed by trade and energy ministers representing the European Union, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia, as well as UNMIK (as Kosovo representative under Security Council resolution 1244).
The treaty covers the sectors electricity, natural gas and petroleum products.
The treaty will ensure that signatory states will adopt EU single market regulations regarding energy (the EU acquis communautaire in the relevant fields of Energy, Environment, Competition and others).
The timetable for implementation of the Treaty is the following:
- in twelve months (by July 1, 2007) implement the two EU energy market directives and the regulation on cross-border network access.
- from 1 January 2008 liberalization of the market for all non-household customers.
- by 31 December 2011 reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels.
- from 1 January 2015 liberalization of the market for all customers.
- by 31 December 2017 limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants.
The treaty builds upon the South-East Europe Regional Energy Market for electricity and natural gas formed in the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe through the Athens Memorandum of November 2002 (covering electricity) and its revision in 2003 (covering natural gas).
The Treaty has been criticised by the trade unions (European Federation of Public Service Trade Unions EPSU as it lacks a social dimension. The European Commission is now developing a Memorandum of Understanding on the social aspects in response.
Signature of the Treaty has been approved by the European Parliament on May 29, 2006.
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[edit] Participants and observers
Participants of the treaty are the signatories:
By terms of the treaty, any Member State of EU may be represented in the Ministerial Council, the Permanent High Level Group and the Regulatory Board and participate in the discussions in these bodies and the Fora. This privilege is used by Austria, Greece, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia.
Any other neighbouring third country can participate if a reasoned request is approved by the Ministerial Council. The Parties granted Observer status at the ministerial meeting of 17 November 2006 to four applicant countries:
[edit] Ratification
- UNMIK (as Kosovo representative under Security Council resolution 1244) - 23.12.2005
- Bulgaria - 07.03.2006
- Albania - 24.05.2006
- Republic of Macedonia - 29.05.2006
- European Communities - 29.05.2006
- Romania - 26.06.2006
- Croatia - 30.06.2006
- Bosnia and Herzegovina - 20.09.2006
- Serbia - 09.08.2006
- Montenegro - pending
[edit] Institutions
The main institutions established or being established are:
- Ministerial Council
- Permanent High Level Group
- Regulatory Board
- Fora
- Secretariat
[edit] Secretariat
The Secretariat is provide administrative support to the other institutions of the Energy Community, reviewing the implementation of obligations by member countries, submitting yearly progress reports to the Ministerial Council, and reviewing and assisting the donors’ activity. The seat of the Secretariat is in Vienna.
[edit] See also
- Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe
- South-East Europe Regional Energy Market
- European Community
- Baku Initiative
