EU agrees common energy strategy with Black Sea, Caspian states

London (Platts)--30Nov2006

The EU and governments of a number of countries of the Black Sea and
Caspian Sea regions agreed Thursday in Astana, Kazakhstan, on a common energy
strategy, the European Commission said in a statement.
The European Commission and the governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkey,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Russia (as an observer) agreed an energy road map that
sets out a long-term plan for enhanced energy cooperation between all
partners.
It also sets out a plan of action to bridge the gap between the current
situation in the energy sector of these countries and the long-term vision for
a common energy strategy, the Commission said.
"All parties agreed to make every effort to facilitate and mobilize
private and public financial resources from partner countries, EU assistance
and international financial institutions to support this process," the
Commission said.
"This conference has drawn the way towards closer energy integration of
these regions of the world," said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.
The conference was a follow-up to a ministerial meeting held in Baku,
Azerbaijan, in November 2004, which "confirmed mutual interest for supporting
gradual development of regional energy markets in the partner countries."
In Astana, participants reviewed the work carried out by expert working
groups and on this basis, agreed the four following priority areas for future
energy cooperation: converging of energy markets; enhancing energy security;
supporting sustainable energy development, including energy efficiency,
renewable energy sources and demand side management; and attracting investment
towards energy projects of common interest.

For more news, request a free trial to Platts EU Energy at
http://www.platts.com/Request%20More%20Information/index.xml?story or
subscribe now at
http://www.platts.com/infostore/product_info.php?cPath=23_33&products_id=60