Press Release: EU and South East Europe countries create a new Energy Community

Meeting in Athens on 14 December 2004, Ministers and representatives from the 25 EU Member States and 11 countries of South East Europe, including Turkey, agreed on the basic principles contained in a text of a Treaty to formally establish an Energy Community between them. The Energy Community was aimed at creating a single regulatory space for energy in the European peninsula. It should serve the interests of both parties in terms of reinforced security of supply. It was also thought to help South East European countries to address energy poverty issues with the aim of providing power supply to all citizens at an affordable price. Whilst a number of more detailed issues remained to be resolved, it was expected by all delegations that it would be possible to formally sign the Treaty by summer 2005. The Treaty would clearly give a strong political signal to South East Europe for further EU integration of other sectors.