Radomir Naumov
Author:
Tanjug
According to the statement the ministerial council of the Energy Community is the most important institution created through the Energy Community Treaty which gives firm ground for establishing a regional energy market in South Eastern Europe and integrates it with the internal energy market of the EU.
The ministerial council will, it is expected, adopt the most necessary procedure acts so that some of the institutions formed through the Treaty begin to function.
Other interested countries will also be able to participate in the forming of the Energy Community in the meeting in Skopje, and it is expected that decisions will also be brought regarding the securing of budget support for activities which will be undertaken within the framework of this process.
The ministerial council will, due to the major interest shown in participation in this process, will examine applications of countries for gaining status of participant, observer or member in the Treaty. The report of the Energy Community Secretariat on work in 2006, as well as the draft plan for work in the upcoming year, will be discussed.
Most importantly, countries signatory to the Treaty will adopt national actions plans at the meeting in Skopje for implementing Annex I of the Energy Community Treaty which envisages opening up of the electricity and gas markets for all consumers apart from the household category, by January 1, 2008.
The ministerial council will also deal with social implications of implementing the Treaty and it is expected that suitable political declarations will be adopted in that context.
In order to improve security in energy supply, above all in electricity and gas, intensive and necessary cooperation between signatory countries will be examined, concludes the statement.