The European Union (EU) has begun negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on their accession to the Energy Community Treaty, the European Commission said Wednesday.
Both countries have demonstrated a strong will to join the treaty, to prepare for mandatory implementation of related EU legislation and to pursue the necessary reforms of their energy markets, the Commission said.
Initial talks with Ukraine were held Tuesday and those with Moldova on Wednesday, both in Vienna, where the treaty secretariat is located.
Ukraine and Moldova presented their initial assessments and timetables for implementation of the treaty, in relation with their energy policy strategy and planned reforms of the energy sector, the Commission said.
It was agreed that the second round of negotiations would be held in February 2009 in Brussels.
EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs welcomed the positive outcome of the initial talks.
"This first meeting confirmed that it is possible to progress quickly and to conclude the negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova possibly in 2009," he said.
Piebalgs hoped to begin negotiations with Turkey in the coming weeks.
Ukraine, Moldova and Turkey have requested access to the Energy Community Treaty. The European Commission has been mandated to negotiate with the three nations.
The Energy Community Treaty, which took force July 1, 2006, groups all EU countries and the Western Balkan states of Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey, Norway and Georgia are observers to the treaty.
The Energy Community Treaty aims to build a stable regulatory and market framework in order to create an integrated energy market that allows cross-border trade and is linked to the EU market to enhance supply security.
Parties to the treaty are required to implement related EU legislation.
Source:Xinhua
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