SEENERGY > Athens Process
Development of the ECSEE - Energy Community of South East Europe
A strategy has been developed for South East Europe to create modern and efficient energy infrastructure networks (for electricity, oil and gas) to ensure that the energy system of the region can meet the energy demands of each country. The development of energy infrastructures should therefore ensure an adequate supply of energy, ensure the region’s security of supply, and the necessary interconnection between the region and the neighbouring systems. It should also develop interconnections of regional interest within the South-Eastern European region.
These reforms will lead to an improved efficiency of the system, a better use of the existing infrastructure, therefore ensuring a long-term viability of the system and a better integration of energy systems and practices with those of the European Community.
The European Commission brought forward proposals for the creation of a regional electricity market in South East Europe (SEE) in March 2002 with the aim of eventually creating a regional energy market. In November 2002, a Memorandum of Understanding (“The Athens Memorandum”) was signed at the Athens Ministerial by all the countries with the Commission and the Stability Pact acting as sponsors. The Commission also agreed on a common strategy paper with all international donors active on a regional basis. The Athens Memorandum set up a number of institutions, which are collectively called the ‘Athens Process’.
The European Commission and the Stability Pact jointly drive the Athens Process since 2002, with a view to creating a regional energy market in SEE. This should increase reliability of the supply, lower prices for consumers and create opportunities for investments in the energy sector.
All South East Europe countries agreed to adopt the European Union legislation based on principles set out in the Electricity Directive (96/92) and the new European Union proposals once adopted. Regarding the timetable, the countries of the region committed themselves to start to open their electricity markets by 2005, to create Regulatory Bodies and Transmission System Operators by June 2003 and Distribution System Operators by January 2005. All this is based on the rules currently in force and being developed by the European Union. Eventually the Energy Community of South East Europe will be integrated within the European Union’s Internal Electricity Market. All these commitments are included in the 2002 Athens Memorandum.
The interim Energy Community Secretariat
At the end of December 2004, the work of the Athens Process Secretariat came to a close. It has been replaced by the interim Energy Community Secretariat (iECS). The iECS will assist the European Commission and the Permanent High Level Group (PHLG) in guiding the process of creating an energy community. It will work in close co-operation and under the surveillance of the European Commission and report regularly to the European Commission and to the relevant stakeholders where appropriate.
The main tasks of the iECS cover the following:
The secretariat for the interim Energy Community Secretariat is currently being set up with new offices and will soon be operational. The European Commission (DGTREN) is able to provide further information on this. Please contact Stephan Ressl.
E-mail: Stephan.RESSL@cec.eu.int
The official web page of the Athens Process is hosted on www.SEERECON.org - the website of the Joint Office of the European Commission and the World Bank.
The site contains updated information on: the texts of the Memoranda of Understanding, forthcoming and past meetings and their documents, investments, benchmarking, donors’ activities and investments in the region, and newsletters.
It also has profiles of the main companies investing in South East Europe.
A strategy has been developed for South East Europe to create modern and efficient energy infrastructure networks (for electricity, oil and gas) to ensure that the energy system of the region can meet the energy demands of each country. The development of energy infrastructures should therefore ensure an adequate supply of energy, ensure the region’s security of supply, and the necessary interconnection between the region and the neighbouring systems. It should also develop interconnections of regional interest within the South-Eastern European region.
These reforms will lead to an improved efficiency of the system, a better use of the existing infrastructure, therefore ensuring a long-term viability of the system and a better integration of energy systems and practices with those of the European Community.
The European Commission brought forward proposals for the creation of a regional electricity market in South East Europe (SEE) in March 2002 with the aim of eventually creating a regional energy market. In November 2002, a Memorandum of Understanding (“The Athens Memorandum”) was signed at the Athens Ministerial by all the countries with the Commission and the Stability Pact acting as sponsors. The Commission also agreed on a common strategy paper with all international donors active on a regional basis. The Athens Memorandum set up a number of institutions, which are collectively called the ‘Athens Process’.
The European Commission and the Stability Pact jointly drive the Athens Process since 2002, with a view to creating a regional energy market in SEE. This should increase reliability of the supply, lower prices for consumers and create opportunities for investments in the energy sector.
All South East Europe countries agreed to adopt the European Union legislation based on principles set out in the Electricity Directive (96/92) and the new European Union proposals once adopted. Regarding the timetable, the countries of the region committed themselves to start to open their electricity markets by 2005, to create Regulatory Bodies and Transmission System Operators by June 2003 and Distribution System Operators by January 2005. All this is based on the rules currently in force and being developed by the European Union. Eventually the Energy Community of South East Europe will be integrated within the European Union’s Internal Electricity Market. All these commitments are included in the 2002 Athens Memorandum.
The interim Energy Community Secretariat
At the end of December 2004, the work of the Athens Process Secretariat came to a close. It has been replaced by the interim Energy Community Secretariat (iECS). The iECS will assist the European Commission and the Permanent High Level Group (PHLG) in guiding the process of creating an energy community. It will work in close co-operation and under the surveillance of the European Commission and report regularly to the European Commission and to the relevant stakeholders where appropriate.
The main tasks of the iECS cover the following:
· Replicate the tasks of the Energy Community Secretariat, as defined in the draft Energy Community Treaty, as closely as possible
· Activities related to Market Structure and Oversight (draft and provide a road map at country and regional level for necessary reform , assist authorities to developing state action plans, monitor the implementation of the acquis communautaire including the use of benchmarking and reporting to the relevant parties),
· Provision of technical assistance to the signatories of the MOU to adopt the acquis communautaire on energy (electricity and gas networks and production/generation standards) as laid down in the Memoranda and the draft Energy Community Treaty.
· Act as an information centre on Donors? Activities with respect to investments and technical assistance
· Assist the European Commission in the co-ordination of the donors? group.
· Provide input and run the Energy Community web-site for the efficient operation and dissemination of information about the Energy Community.
· To act as an infrastructure project facilitator in co-ordination with International Financing Institutions (IFI) and the European Commission
Contact:· Activities related to Market Structure and Oversight (draft and provide a road map at country and regional level for necessary reform , assist authorities to developing state action plans, monitor the implementation of the acquis communautaire including the use of benchmarking and reporting to the relevant parties),
· Provision of technical assistance to the signatories of the MOU to adopt the acquis communautaire on energy (electricity and gas networks and production/generation standards) as laid down in the Memoranda and the draft Energy Community Treaty.
· Act as an information centre on Donors? Activities with respect to investments and technical assistance
· Assist the European Commission in the co-ordination of the donors? group.
· Provide input and run the Energy Community web-site for the efficient operation and dissemination of information about the Energy Community.
· To act as an infrastructure project facilitator in co-ordination with International Financing Institutions (IFI) and the European Commission
The secretariat for the interim Energy Community Secretariat is currently being set up with new offices and will soon be operational. The European Commission (DGTREN) is able to provide further information on this. Please contact Stephan Ressl.
E-mail: Stephan.RESSL@cec.eu.int
The official web page of the Athens Process is hosted on www.SEERECON.org - the website of the Joint Office of the European Commission and the World Bank.
The site contains updated information on: the texts of the Memoranda of Understanding, forthcoming and past meetings and their documents, investments, benchmarking, donors’ activities and investments in the region, and newsletters.
It also has profiles of the main companies investing in South East Europe.
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