In a report released this week [1] at a high level meeting of the Energy Community [2], CAN Europe and other NGOs [3] called for more transparency, a level playing field for energy investments and decent environmental standards in Southeast Europe. The report represents the agreed position of the NGOs towards the Energy Community.
“This report clearly demonstrates that the Energy Community needs redoubled commitment from its members to support the EU’s long-term decarbonisation and environmental protection goals,” said Dragana Mileusnic of CAN Europe.
The recent flooding of homes, coal mines and power plants across the Balkans, caused by the type of extreme weather event that will become more frequent with mounting climate impacts, demonstrate that sustainable energy policies are crucial components of security and sustainability in the region. The new report explains how the extension and reform of the Energy Community Treaty presents a golden opportunity to meet the region’s energy challenges with a united approach.
When presenting the report Garret Tankosic-Kelly, Principal of SEE Change Net, stated, “We are concerned that environmental and social concerns are being discounted and deadlines postponed because of shady business dealings amongst high level decision makers in the power sector.”
The report also reflects the need for improvements in the field of rule of law and transparency, environmental standards and climate action as well as in implementation of the Treaty provisions .
“A common energy market for the EU and the Energy Community will require a level playing field in terms of laws and standards, just like in football. If we don’t all play by the same rules, the game isn’t fair,” added Malgorzata Smolak of Client Earth.
The Energy Community has recently made significant efforts to include the views of NGOs and foster greater public participation in the functioning of the Treaty, including giving NGOs this first chance to present a report at a High Level Group Meeting.
Contacts:
Dragana Mileusnic, CAN Europe Policy Officer, dragana@caneurope.org, +32 471 438 442
Masha Durkalic, SEE Change Net Communications Officer, masha@seechangenet.org, +387 63 999 827
Notes:
[1] Smolak M. et al., “Recommendations Regarding the Reform of Energy Community Treaty,” June 2014. http://seechangenetwork.org/images/publications/recommendations%20regarding%20the%20reform%20of%20energy%20community%20treaty.pdf
[2] The Energy Community is an international organisation dealing with energy policy. It was founded in 2006 with the aim of extending the EU internal energy policy to the South East Europe and Black Sea region in the context of a legally binding framework. In addition to the EU, the Energy Community members are the countries of the Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine, with Armenia, Norway and Turkey having observer status. http://www.energy-community.org/portal/page/portal/ENC_HOME/MEMBERS
[3] Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s largest coalition working on climate and energy issues. With over 120 member organisations in more than 25 European countries, CAN Europe works to prevent dangerous climate change and promote sustainable energy and environment policy in Europe. In addition to CAN Europe, the report released this week was supported by Client Earth, HEAL, CEE Bankwatch, WWF MedPo and regional NGOs including SEE Change Net, Front 21/42 and others.
