Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-05-17-Speech-3-333"
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"en.20060517.22.3-333"2
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substitute; Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America (2004-09-15--2007-03-13)3
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".
Mr President, I wish to thank both the Council and the Commissioner for allowing Parliament to continue to participate in these matters in the future.
The Energy Community Treaty, signed in October, integrates nine countries in south-east Europe with our energy market. That is a historic event in at least two senses.
Firstly, it is a precedent, as for the first time it will extend legislation on the single market for the electricity and gas sector to nine countries outside the Union. Secondly, it is the first multilateral agreement that applies to the whole of south-east Europe since the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. It will take much cooperation, but will thus stabilise the region.
Establishing the Energy Community is in many ways a rational and justifiable project. The energy sector in the Balkan region is undeveloped and continues to suffer the consequences of a war that took place a decade ago. There are frequent power cuts and there is no secure source of energy available. Furthermore, the environment is suffering on account of old power stations and their emissions and, in addition, the lack of investment and lack of competition both pose serious problems. The purpose of the Energy Community Treaty is to develop the energy infrastructure with the help of loans granted by financial institutions. It is estimated that around EUR 25-30 billion will be needed for investment in the electricity sector over the next 10 years. The fact is that a viable and reliable energy system will also tempt investors, which will result in the region’s economic situation developing, improved general stability and a reduction in emigration. Moreover, it is important for the Union to improve reliability of the energy supply (we are also speaking from our own point of view) and reduce dependence on single suppliers. The Balkan region is also an important route to the Middle East energy in the Caspian region.
There are also causes for concern. In spite of the energy in south-east Europe being at present underpriced, much of the population cannot afford to purchase electricity. When the energy sector becomes market-based, it will be capitalised, so prices will inevitably rise. The parties to the Treaty should therefore ensure that public service obligations are fulfilled and that prices are reasonable, so that the poor too can afford electricity and gas. Parliament insists that the parties should sign a legally binding protocol. This kind of binding commitment is important. The single market must apply standards, in the areas of working conditions and social equality, for example, especially as we are talking about an energy sector that will be making massive profits."@en1
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