Brussels, 22/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - The interconnection of the electricity systems of the EU and Russia and the establishment of a common European electricity market was recognised as a priority for the energy development strategies of both partners at a bilateral round table on electricity held in Moscow last Thursday and Friday. Francois LAMOUREUX, European Commission Director General for Transport and Energy, led the EU delegation. Victor KHRISTENKO, Vice-Prime Minister, and Anatoli CHUBAIS, CEO of RAO UES, headed the Russian side.
In a press statement we leaned that Mr Khristenko had stressed the objective of making a final decision on the interconnection issue by 2007 and both parties recognised that the integration will require equivalent rules as regards the degree of market opening, regulation of network access and unbundling, as well as comparable environmental and safety standards for electricity production, including nuclear safety. The participants also stated that efficient market integration would require setting up the technological infrastructure. A working group has already been set up to examine the current situation in this area (its report is expected for mid-2004), Messrs Lamoureux and Chubaïs agreed to launch and co-finance a feasibility study on the synchronous interconnection of the UCTE and IPS/UPOS(United Power Systems).
In the context of a two-day Round Table, the participants agreed to cooperate closely together to promote the convergence of energy strategies of the EU and Russia, with Russia being a major energy supplier to the EU in oil and gas, and to continue their industrial cooperation to facilitate investment and harmonise technical standards. The two parties also underlined their common objectives of security of energy supply, the reduction, at the same time of demand and instability of the energy markets, as well as the fight against nuclear terrorism. All these issues will be fleshed out in the context of the energy dialogue between the EU and Russia. The two partners welcomed the recent EU decision to co-finance a feasibility study of the North European gas pipeline, the progress achieved in resolving the issue of destination clauses in certain long-term gas supply contracts, as well as the European Commission's announcement to launch negotiations with Russia on trade in nuclear materials in January 2004.