Brussels, 07/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - Prepared with a view to the latest EU-Russia summit (on 4 October in London, see EUROPE 9041, p.10) by the Russian minister for energy, Viktor Khristenko, and Director General of the DG Energy at the Commission, François Lamoureux, the 6th progress report on bilateral energy dialogue notes regular progress made in relations between the two parties in the field of energy. The report stresses the need to bring Russian and Community energy strategies closer together, to strengthen cooperation and the exchange of information in the context of volatile oil prices to contribute to greater transparency of oil markets, and to jointly examine energy issues relating to refining capacities, the supply of oil and gas, strategic oil stocks and long term natural gas supply contracts. The report welcomes, moreover, the establishment in Commission services of a European Energy Observation System (EUROPE 9024) as well as work by the Technologies Centre in Moscow where Russian and Community experts work in strengthening bilateral cooperation on energy technologies. Finally, the report stresses the need for convergence of Russian and Community regulatory frameworks in order to make them more attractive, stable and foreseeable for investment reasons (mainly in oil and gas transport infrastructures).
For more information: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/energy/russia/joint_progress/index_en.htm