Moldova, Ukraine become members of the EU Energy Community
On Friday the Council of Ministers of EU Energy Community has approved the admittance of Moldova and Ukraine to the membership of this organization. However before the harmonization of their gas legislation with the European one and the ratification of their membership agreements by their Parliaments they will remain observers in the organization, like Georgia and Turkey.
According to the foreign mass media, European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said that that the membership will be efficient, if Kiev and Chisinau will fill in existing gaps.
"Moldova's and Ukrainian's joining the EU Energy Community will catalyze the reforms in their energy sectors and all the expanded energy market, which is based on the common rules, will win. In particular, it may also help Ukraine, as an important transit country, to renovate its infrastructure. The expansion process plays an important role in the European Union's achieving the energy security objectives, as well as contributing to energy security of the two countries. I am waiting for the quickest approval of the gas legislation by both Parliaments - of Ukraine and Moldova", he remarked.
In the European Energy Commissioner's words, his words, the process of joining the European Energy Community is very important for achieving the both European energy security objectives and for the energy security of Moldova and Ukraine.
The harmonization of Ukraine's and Moldova's legislation envisages, in particular, the setting-up of an independent transit gas operator, as well as the equal access of operators to the gas Infrastructure.
The harmonization of the national legislation with the nation one is one of the main requirements for the membership in European Energy Community. The Moldovan Government approved new laws on electric energy and gas as far back as in spring and committed them to the Parliament. They had passed the expertise of the European Commission, the World Bank and the ЕU Community.
The agreement on the setting-up of the South East Energy Community, which is now called ECT, was signed by the European Union, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo on October 25 in the Athens. It is aimed at creating a single electric energy and gas market. It united 27 countries. The document came in force on July 1, 2006 and envisages the gradual introduction of the EU legislation in the field of electric energy, natural gas, competition, supply security, investment protection and renewable energy sources. In November 2006 Moldova received the observer status in this organization.
Infotag news agency
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