The Institute of Energy for SE Europe (IENE) and Eurelectric joined forces, on Friday, March 9, convening a half-day high-level conference in Brussels on the latest developments related to energy market integration and transition in SE EuropeThe Institute of Energy for SE Europe (IENE) and Eurelectric joined forces, on Friday, March 9, convening a half-day high-level conference in Brussels on the latest developments related to energy market integration and transition in SE Europe.
For some time now, European energy market integration has become a priority issue for EU energy policy, as it offers the prospect of a more cost-effective and competitive power and gas system, enhanced security and cross-border solidarity, and the potential for integrating a greater share of renewable energy (RES) and improved energy efficiency systems.
However,
while market integration and transition to cleaner fuels is progressing well at
European level, this is not the case for SE Europe. In most SE European
countries, regional energy cooperation has been perceived as a necessary part
of the European integration process. At the beginning of the present decade,
the main targets of EU energy policy were incorporated in the long-term
strategies of SEE countries. Lately, the focus has been redirected towards modernization
of energy infrastructure, the construction of new facilities, including
electricity and gas interconnections, improvement of energy efficiency and
increased use of RES.
This joint IENE-Eurelectric event, on "Energy Market Integration and Transition in South-East Europe” explored the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in SEE’s energy sector (gas, electricity and RES) and which are associated to the ongoing process of market transformation.
The conference commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Henning Häder, Eurelectric’s Manager on Energy Policy, Climate & Sustainability, as well as with introductory remarks by IENE’s Chairman, Mr. John Chadjivassiliades.
The first session was chaired by Mr. Slavtcho Neykov, former Director of Energy Community Secretariat and current Chair of Eurelectric’s WG Group on South-East Europe, as well as Chairman of the Board of Managers of the Sofia-based Energy Management Institute. Mr. Neykov made an Opening Statement describing the current problems SE Europe is facing vis-à-vis Energy Market Integration and Transition and the contribution of the Energy Community in overcoming them.
From his part, the Executive Director of IENE, Mr. Costis Stambolis, provided the Institute’s view on the regional energy market integration and transition, as highlighted in IENE’s recently published "SE Europe Energy Outlook 2016/2017" study. As he stressed, a major finding of the study is that SE Europe, in contrast to the rest of Europe, remains committed to continuing coal use. Based on IENE’s estimates, the share of solid fuels for power generation is anticipated to increase steadily in several countries of the region (most notably in Serbia, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Greece and Turkey) over the next 10-15 years, as they will struggle to meet increased energy demand. Hence, the road towards decarbonization and the transition to a "greener” future in SE Europe, with higher use of natural gas and renewables, appears difficult, if not uncertain, in comparison with the rest of Europe.
Ms. Anca Cimpeanu, on behalf of DG ENER, European Commission, presented EU’s Clean Energy Package and Energy Markets Integration in SEE.
The session closed with a Panel Discussion with the participation of Mr. Olivier Marquette (Head of Business Development Eurasia & AES Bulgaria President, Bulgaria), Mr. Pawel Lont (Secretary Gas Committee, EFET, The Netherlands) and Mr. Dimitris Mezartasoglou (Head of Research, IENE).
The second session of this joint IENE-Eurelectric event focused on the opportunities and challenges towards a sustainable energy market in SE Europe. The session started with Opening Remarks by Prof. Farantouris (Head of Legal Dpt., DEPA, Chair ofLegal Affairs Committee, EUROGAS, Professor of EU Law, University of Piraeus, Greece), who co-ordinated its proceedings.
The perspective of the industry was analyzed in presentations by Mr. Damjan Međimorec (ENTSO-E RG SEE Governor), Mr. Stavros Goutsos (Deputy CEO, PPC), Mr. Andrea Villa (Head of EU Regulation, ENEL) and Mr. Gurbuz Gonul (Acting Director, Country Support and Partnerships, IRENA). A panel discussion followed chaired by Mr. Costis Geropoulos, Journalist of the "New Europe” newspaper with the participation of the above executives.
Greece’s Public Power Corporation (PPC) S.A. was the lead sponsor of the conference, whereas Euroasia Interconnector and Public Gas Corporation of Greece (DEPA) S.A. were its supporters. Greece’s leading energy portal, Energia.Gr, and "New Europe” newspaper were the event’s media partners.
