Brussels, 26/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 26 November, the European Commission announced that the first negotiating session had been successfully held between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova concerning their accession to the Energy Community Treaty. The Commission noted in a press release that “both countries demonstrated their strong willingness to join the Energy Community, to prepare for the implementation of the related EU legislation and to pursue the necessary reforms of their energy markets”. The energy commissioner, Andris Piebalgs said: “This first meeting confirmed that it is possible to progress quickly and to conclude the negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova possibly in 2009”. He also said that he hoped to open talks on this theme with Turkey “in the coming weeks”. (L.C./transl.rh)