Georgia-EU discusses accession into the European Energy Community
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The European Commission and Georgia launched negotiations for Georgia's accession to the Energy Community.
The negotiations were held in Tbilisi today in the presence of European Commission Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Vice-Prime Minister and Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze.
By becoming a Member of the Energy Community and implementing EU energy legislation, Georgia will have closer ties with the EU's single energy market. This will attract investments and increase the financial sustainability of the energy sector.
"Today's negotiations mark Georgia's path towards regional integration and enhanced energy cooperation with the EU. Jining the Energy Community will attract investments into Georgia and bring Georgian citizens and businesses closer to the other members of the Energy Community and the European Union,” Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger said following the meeting.
Energy Community Secretariat direcror Janez Kopac expressed confidence that Georgia would become a full member of the Energy Community family.
"The Energy Community has proven to be an effective tool for supporting reforms in the energy sector and fostering investment. The opening of the negotiations sends an important signal that Georgia is on its way to develop its energy markets in a sustainable way,” he said.
The negotiating teams exchanged views on a timetable for Georgia to implement key EU rules on electricity and gas networks, environment, renewable energy, energy efficiency, oil and on energy statistics.
An extended meeting was attended by Kaladze and Georgia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maia Panjikidze.
Today the German delegation also visited Tbilisi to estimate possible future business cooperation with Georgia.
The next negotiation round is scheduled to take place in Brussels on March 19, 2014.
The Parties to the Energy Community are the European Union and eight countries from South East Europe and the Black Sea region: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine. To date, Georgia, Armenia, Norway and Turkey have the status of observers.
In the medium term, the Energy Community aims at creating an integrated energy market across the region which allows for cross-border trade, guarantees energy supply and takes into consideration climate and social aspects.