The launch conference on energy education in Southeastern Europe on 18 September stressed the benefits of market liberalisation, which is emerging in the region through the Energy Community Treaty that the EU signed with nine countries in 2005.
The treaty represents a framework for a working energy market in the region, according to the Duke of York, who delivered the keynote address at the UK-sponsored conference as part of his visit to Slovenia.

The United Kingdom has the most liberal and competitive energy market in Europe so it knows that the creation of a modern electricity and gas supply system will reduce prices and improve the flexibility of supply, he said.

Prince Andrew added that the UK was taking an active part in the programme because it wanted Southeastern Europe to be more tightly connected with the rest of Europe again, and because this would boost overall energy security in Europe and Great Britain.

The liberalisation of the EU energy market will be one of the priorities of the Slovenian EU presidency in 2008, Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel meanwhile noted in his address.

"We are facing the inter-dependence of markets of the EU and its neighbours and the provision of sustainable and safe supply; this can be achieved only with harmonisation and an appropriate international oversight regime."

Similarly, Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak said liberalisation and good functioning of energy markets were the key to energy security. "To achieve these goals, we need well working markets, new technologies and security of supply."

The conference, which was held at Jable Castle near Menges, is part of a one-year education programme organised by the British Embassy in Ljubljana, the Economy Ministry, the Centre for European perspective and the energy company Borzen.

Source: STA