EaP CSF Workshop on Energy Union and Energy Security in EaP Countries

21 October 2015

On 20 October 2015, the Workshop on Energy Union and Energy Security in EaP Countries was organised as part of a joint project within the new EaP CSF re-granting scheme. During the workshop led by the EaP CSF member World Experience for Georgia (WEG), energy experts from EaP countries presented their policy papers and discussed the main findings of the joint project with the EU representatives: Marion Schiller-Probst (DG ENER, European Commission), Natalja Miolato (DG NEAR, European Commission) and Camelia Suică (EEAS). The main goal of the joint project is to increase the capacity of EaP CSOs in promoting an enhanced cooperation between the EU and EaP countries in energy security under the new EU initiative – Energy Union.

The Energy Union was launched by the EU in February 2015 in order to improve its energy security and strengthen its position related to energy suppliers. Each EaP country has special relations with the EU in energy sector and is interested in strengthening further its bilateral relations. Moldova and Ukraine are members of Energy Community and Georgia is in the process of negotiating its membership with the European Commission. Given a low level of awareness about the Energy Union and its goals in the EaP countries, independent experts from the EaP carried out a comparative analysis of national energy policies to determine the possible influence of the new EU energy policy on the position of the respective country, also in relation to third countries supplying energy sources.

After presenting the policy papers of each EaP country and exchanging the views on the findings of the project, the participants drew a number of conclusions and policy recommendations common for the six EaP countries:

Raise awareness about energy efficiency among population and CSOs in the EaP countries
Increase the diversification of energy sources and energy suppliers in the EaP countries
Modernize the existing energy infrastructure in the EaP countries
Ensure safety of energy infrastructure and security of energy transit in the current geopolitical situation
Direct more funding into research and innovation in the energy sector
Launch EnergyEast initiative based on the example of the existing ClimaEast project

Good governance and transparency in the EaP countries were mentioned as being essential prerequisites for energy security.

Workshop Agenda

Policy Papers Presentations:

Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Georgia
Moldova
Ukraine

Final Publication: Energy Union and Energy Security in EaP Countries

back to Forum News