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Commissioner: Ukraine commitment to Energy Community is good for energy security

17-01-2012

 EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger met Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko on Friday, with talks focusing on ongoing discussions between Ukraine and Russia on gas pricing and transit, according to a press release from the EU Delegation in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian Minister reassured Commissioner Oettinger that the outcome of these discussions would ensure uninterrupted supplies of Russian gas to the European Union.
 
The Energy Commissioner stressed that any agreement with Russia must also guarantee the full respect by Ukraine of the legal commitments it took when joining the Energy Community Treaty earlier this year. This is essential both for the energy security and independence of Ukraine, and also since the energy chapters of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area component) are built around these engagements, the press release said.
 
Energy Commissioner Oettinger said: "The EU is willing, if Ukraine and Russia so wish, to enter into tripartite consultations on gas transit at any time. The Commission stands ready to continue both its active support to the Ukrainian energy sector reforms and to the upgrading of the gas transit infrastructure in Ukraine to ensure that it remains a key part of the pan-European energy network. Minister Boyko and I have agreed to work on a common strategy to further energy market integration into the EU. This work will start immediately. I will keep in touch with Mr Boyko on the development of the negotiations with Russia."
 
Ukraine signed the Energy Community Treaty in February 2011, joining other contracting parties: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro Serbia, and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244.
 
The Energy Community aims at creating an integrated energy market across the region which allows for cross-border trade, guarantees energy supply and takes into consideration climate and social aspects. It was created for a period of 10 years, expiring in 2016; it can be extended by a unanimous decision of its Ministerial Council.
 
The budget of the Energy Community for 2011 is over €3 million and it is 98% financed by the EU. (ENPI Info Centre)
 
 
Read more
 
Press release
 
Energy Community – web site
 
Energy Council Conclusions on external dimension of EU energy policy
  
European Commission – European Energy Community
 
ENPI Info Centre – Ukraine becomes fully fledged member of Energy Community (01-02-11)