28-29 March 2006

Following the successful 1^st Ministerial Conference on energy co-operation between the EU, the Black Sea/Caspian littoral States and their neighbours on 13 November 2004 in Baku whereby the key result was the agreement on a mutual interest for opening a new co-operation aimed at supporting the gradual development of regional energy markets in the Caspian Littoral States and their neighbouring countries, on 28-29 March 2006, upon the initiative of and the invitation from the European Commission, the 1^st Working Groups Meeting successfully took place in Brussels in order to present, discuss, and approve the work programme for 2006 with the 4 Working Groups established during the Baku Ministerial Conference: 

• WG1: Harmonisation of legal, regulatory, and institutional framework for market liberalization
• WG2: Enhancing safety and security of energy transportation networks
• WG3: Sustainable Development, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
• WG4: Investment Attraction & Project Facilitation/Project Common Interest

Over 60 participants attended the 1^st Working Groups Meeting namely, 

• Working Groups Members and Country Coordinators of the participating countries from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan as well as the Russian Federation as observer.
• Representatives of the European Commission – DG RELEX, DG TREN, DG EuropeAid
• Representatives of the Tacis Coordination Units in the participating countries
• Representatives of the INOGATE Technical Secretariat
• EU Experts for supporting the Working Groups Members activities

The main aims of the ‘Baku Initiative’ as declared in the conclusions of the Energy Ministerial Conference in Baku November 2004 are as follows:

• Facilitate the transportation of extensive Caspian oil and gas resources towards Europe «multiple source - multiple pipeline routes» (transiting through Russia or via other countries)
• Facilitate the progressive integration of Black Sea and Caspian Region energy markets into the EU market (crucial for contributing to the political economic and social development of partner countries)

As such, the objective of the Working Groups for the running year is to prepare the “Road Map” setting out the long-term vision for the enhanced energy co-operation between the EU, the Caspian Littoral States and their Neighbouring countries, which will be presented at the Energy Ministerial Conference in November 2006 for endorsement.

Lastly, it was noted that the strategic orientations adopted by the Energy Ministers at the Baku Conference in November 2004 was a major starting point for the establishment of one of the largest cooperation frameworks in the world in a key area for economic and social development –energy.

For more information on the Working Groups 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