24 November 2006

On 20-21 November 2006 in Brussels, the INOGATE Programme took part in the EU Energy Conference entitled "Towards an EU External Energy Policy to Assure a High Level of Supply Security". The Conference was hosted by the European Commission with the participation of Commission’s President – Mr. José Manuel Barroso, Commissioners for External Relations – Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, for Energy – Mr. Andris Piebalgs, for Trade – Mr. Peter Mandelson, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union – Mr. Javier Solana, Director General for External Relations – Mr. Eneko Landaburu, Deputy Director General for Energy and Transport – Mr. Fabrizio Barbaso, Director General for Trade – Mr. David O’Sullivan, Director General for Development – Mr. Stefano Manservisi, and other higher-level officials.

The objective of this Conference was to bring together the key influential players in the field of energy from both EU member states and non-EU partner countries to discuss the external aspects of European energy policies and the ways in which Europe can most effectively address the matter of its energy security, focusing mainly on oil and natural gas security supplies issues as well as trade and development related topics.

The list of panelists and participants included around 30 Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Energy from EU Member States and third countries, Heads of National Security Bodies, representatives from industry, international organisations, the academic word and civil society. The Conference was also open for the mass-media. During  panels and follow-up debates speeches were made, in particular, by Minister of Energy of the Azerbaijan Republic – Mr. Natiq Aliyev, Minister of Industry and Infrastructure of the Republic of Moldova – Mr. Vladimir Antosii, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine – Mr. Vitaliy Hayduk, Minister for Fuel and Energy of Ukraine – Mr. Yuriy Boyko, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency – Mr. Claude Mandil, Secretary General of the Energy Charter – Mr. Andre Mernier, Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Gazprom” JSC, Russian Federation – Mr. Dmitry Medvedev, and others.

A common understanding of participants, which was expressed in their speeches, was that the energy security is a common responsibility of all parties that participate in the international energy business. Representatives from the non-EU countries expressed their support of EC’s initiative to establish European Investment Fund within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy, which could serve a base for bilateral energy cooperation with EU, and contribute to strengthening of energy security in Europe.

Lastly, the new European Neighbourhood Policy serves as a key instrument for building closer co-operation with EU energy suppliers in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, and the Mediterranean. This policy has the potential to create the right framework to promote their integration with Europe’s energy market and to create the right legal environment for a fruitful and secure cooperation.

For more information on the EC Energy Conference results, please contact the INOGATE Secretariat:

INOGATE Technical Secretariat Kyiv

26/28 Koudriavska Str., Kyiv 04053, Ukraine

Tel: +380.44.2302754, Fax: +380.44.2302753

e-mail: secretariat.kiev@inogate.org