30 November 2006

The 2^nd Ministerial Conference, follow-up to the agreement reached by the Energy Ministers on the occasion of the 1^st Ministerial Conference held in Baku on 13 November 2004, successfully took place on 30 November 2006 in Astana Kazakhstan whereby the EU and the Governments of the Caspian and Black Sea regions namely, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkey agreed and adopted the new Energy Road Map which sets out a long term plan of action for an enhanced energy cooperation between all partners involved.   

The Energy Road Map clearly defines the long-term objectives for the regional energy cooperation and sets out a plan of indicative actions to bridge the gap between the current situation and the long-term vision. The four following priority areas were identified for future energy cooperation between the EU and the Littoral States of the Black and Caspian Seas and their neighbouring countries:

1. Converging of energy markets on the basis of the EU internal energy market principals taking into account the participation of the Partner Countries – gradual convergence of energy markets with the principles of the EU internal energy market and creation of an integrated regional market and progressive integration with the EU energy markets;
2. Enhancing energy security by addressing energy exports/imports, supply diversification, energy transit and energy demand issues;
3.  Sustainable energy development including developing energy efficiency and renewable energy sources – diversification of the energy mix, increase use of renewable energy sources, and promotion of energy demand management;
4. Investment Attraction of energy projects of common interest – further improvement of the investment climate and attraction of the necessary investments in the energy sector. 

In addition all parties agreed to make every effort to facilitate and mobilise private and public financial resources from Partner Countries, EU Technical Assistance, and International Financial Institutions to support this process    

For more information on the Energy Road Map Conclusions, 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