Press Release: The EU and the countries of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions agree on a common energy strategy

The Energy Ministerial Conference of the "Baku Initiative" that brings together the EU countries and the governments of the Caspian and Black Sea regions was held on 30 November 2006 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Ministerial Conference agreed on a new Energy Road Map which sets out a long-term plan for enhanced energy cooperation between all partners. Its implementation will pave the way for a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework governing an integrated EU-Black Sea-Caspian Sea common energy market based on the EU acquis.