Brussels, 19/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - In Vienna on Thursday 18 October, with European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs in attendance, energy and social affairs ministers of the countries of the Energy Community (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo/UNMIK) signed a memorandum of understanding on the said Community's social dimension. The main provisions seek primarily to involve the social partners (unions and employers) in how the Community develops with regard to social relations at all levels and in the management of the social dialogue. They concentrate on the most important parts of the social acquis for those sectors covered by the Community (health and safety at work, equal opportunities, labour law and workers' fundamental rights). They allow issues relating to the protection of vulnerable clients, energy poverty, and access to and the cost of energy to be taken into account. The social memorandum will serve as the basis for the development of a structured dialogue on these issues by bringing national and European social partners operating in the energy sectors in South East Europe together in a regular forum. Elsewhere, it should be noted that the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community will meet, under Serbian chairmanship, in Belgrade on 18 December. (E.H.)