The International Energy Charter (IEC) and the Romanian Chairmanship of the Energy Charter Conference (ECC) jointly organized the 29th Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference on 27-28 November 2018 in Bucharest, Romania. ECO participated at the 29th Meeting in its capacity as observer in ECC.
ECO and ECC has been granted the reciprocal Observer Status on the basis of which they maintain strong relationship sought to enhance synergies; offer policy advice and international consultancy, as well as facilitate exchange of experiences and capacity building between ECO and IEC. In this rationale, Mr. Fuad Farzalibeyov, ECO Director of Energy, Minerals and Environment participated in the Ministerial Session and delivered the statement on behalf of H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour, ECO Secretary General in Session I on “The role of innovation in furthering the energy transition and facilitating sustainable growth”. He appreciated the delegates from the ECO Member States for their active contribution to the Energy Charter process, whereas eight ECO Member States are the members and two are observers of the Energy Charter Conference. The statement highlighted the priority role of energy cooperation within ECO, transformation of its energy agenda towards sustainable energy and policies being pursued by ECO under the current arrangements on innovations. Having emphasized the recent project on establishment of ECO Clean Energy Centre, ECO Director characterized it as a catalyst of both South-South and North-South cooperation dimensions, and facilitator of technology and know-how transfer in ECO Region. He further briefed the audience on the track of cooperation between ECO and ECC and the initiative of establishment of ECO Regional Electricity Market (ECO-REM).
On the margins of the 29th ECC, ECO Secretariat networked with the representatives of the ECO Member States, Energy Charter Secretariat and other delegates on the ongoing and potential areas of cooperation, notably organization of the next ECO Ministerial Meeting on Energy and promotion of ECO-REM project. During consultations with the Energy Charter Secretariat, both sides updated on ECO-IEC cooperation, including the Energy Charter’s expected support to ongoing ECO initiative on establishment of ECO-REM, which constitutes a promising area for ECO-IEC cooperation. They agreed to continue interactions towards advancement of ECO-REM initiative.
The 29th ECC Meeting adopted the Bucharest Energy Charter Declaration as the final document of the 29th ECC. The Declaration focuses on the importance of modernization process within the Energy Charter, investment protection, combating energy poverty through energy efficiency investments, integrated energy markets via innovation, cross-border energy flows and the enlargement of the Energy Charter Treaty Membership.
