The Energy Community Treaty: Securing the Energy Supply in Southeast Europe and in the EU
The Energy Community Treaty: Securing the Energy Supply in Southeast Europe and in the EU

Summary/Abstract: The Energy Community Treaty (ECT) that has entered into force on 1 July 2006 has set up a legal framework that enhances security of energy supply both in South Eastern Europe and in the EU by creating competitive energy markets compatible with sustainable development. The initiative has been launched as a prerequisite to maintain social cohesion in South Eastern Europe and to meet the future demand for energy resulting from economic growth. The challenges that the EU will be facing in the future in the field of energy security are manifold: Infrastructure is ageing and needs to be replaced; the dependency on import of primary fuels is growing and these are concentrated in only a few countries; world energy demands and energy prices are still rising; the growth in energy consumption means a further boost in the emission of greenhouse gases. In order to address these challenges, the European Commission is following an energy strategy that rests on five pillars: the creation of competitive internal energy markets; the diversification of the energy mix; suppliers and supply routes; enhancing energy efficiency and saving; enhancing solidarity (in order to prevent and eventually manage energy supply crises); and enhancing a coherent external energy policy. The Energy Community Treaty shows that countries in South Eastern Europe can successfully work together and thus gives regional co-operation true credibility

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