Georgia takes over Energy Community presidency in ceremony in Vienna

Georgia has officially taken over the rotating presidency of the Energy Community, an organisation bringing together European Union and several non-EU member states to create an integrated pan-European energy market, in a ceremonial reception held in Vienna, the country’s Ministry of Economy said on Thursday.

The event was attended by the Director of the organisation, Artur Lorkowski, representatives from the body’s secretariat and diplomatic missions of member states.

Genadi Arveladze, Georgia’s Deputy Economy Minister, addressed the event to emphasise the importance of the leadership role.

This is not only a responsibility but also an opportunity to encourage regional cooperation, strengthen energy security, and advance the process of transition to green energy”, he said.

In his address, Arveladze highlighted focal points for Georgia’s term, including energy efficiency, alignment of legislative frameworks with EU energy regulations, and enhancement of overall energy security. He underscored the role of energy in ensuring economic stability and fostering investments and regional partnerships.

Our commitment to modernising the energy sector, aligning it with European standards, and promoting regional cooperation remains unwavering. In 2024, we made a significant advancement towards our goal for the country’s electricity market by launching day-ahead and intraday markets. This step lays the groundwork for a smooth transition to a competitive electricity market”, he said.

The Deputy Minister further elaborated on ongoing projects, specifically the Black Sea submarine cable, an international project that aims to create a new transmission route to deliver green energy from the South Caucasus to Europe. He said progress was being made with the involvement of participating countries.

In his turn, Lorkowski praised Georgia’s recent energy reforms and its “leading position” among member states in implementing energy initiatives.

Georgia joined the Energy Community in 2017.