South Eastern European Energy Community - EU model imposed?
The Romanian government organised a conference on the South Eastern European Energy Community for parliamentarians, employers, trade unions and NGOs from the region, 11-12 October, Bucharest. EPSU’s Deputy General Secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan participated in the conference questioning if the Internal market model of electricity and gas liberalisation was the most appropriate one to be imposed on the region in the light of the regions experience and its problematic nature in the EU. “It is not the stable model needed for investment that it is proclaimed to be.” He further argued for transparency in the process of establishing the SEE energy community, the importance of implementing the EU’s social laws, participation of the social partners in the European social dialogue, the role of public services and for a moratorium on privatisation of electricity and gas companies. The European Commission and the countries of SEE will start negotiations on a Treaty to implement the internal market for electricity and gas 13 October.
The SEE Energy Community involves: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo (UNMIK), Macedonia (FYROM), Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey and with the added involvement of Austria, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia and Moldova as an observer.
The Treaty will be the first time the EU extends in a legally binding manner its legislation to other states that are not member of it. The countries concerned will have to implement the EU directives on the internal market for electricity and gas as well as relevant EU environmental laws such as the directive on Large Combustion Plants (reducing emissions and improving efficiency standards).
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