First negotiation rounds were successfully held in Vienna on 25 and 26 November 2008 with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova concerning their accession to the Energy Community Treaty. 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.
On 25 November 2008, an Ukrainian delegation lead by Mr Serhij Pavlusha, Deputy Minister for Fuel and Energy, and on 26 November 2008, a Moldovan delegation lead by Mr Tudor Copaci, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade, met in Vienna with a European Commission negotiating team headed by Mr Fabrizio Barbaso, Deputy Director General. A Representative of Albania, Mr Bujar Leka, as Presidency in office of the Energy Community, and the Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, Mr Slavtcho Neykov, also attended.
Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova presented their initial assessment and timetable for the implementation of the Energy Community Treaty, in relation with their energy policy strategy and planned reforms of the energy sector. The meeting allowed for a comprehensive review of the requirements to be met. In both cases, the discussion was very constructive and did not reveal major obstacles to a swift negotiating process.
Commissioner Piebalgs welcomed the positive outcome of the first negotiations stating: "This first meeting confirmed that it is possible to progress quickly and to conclude the negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova possibly in 2009. We hope to open negotiation with Turkey as well in the coming weeks."
Ukraine, Moldova and Turkey introduced a request to become Parties to the Energy Community Treaty. Following a decision taken by the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community, on 15 July 2008, the Council of the European Union mandated the European Commission to carry out negotiations with these three countries.
In its Second Strategic Energy Review adopted on 12 November (IP/08/1696), the European Commission indicated that "the accession of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Turkey to the Energy Community would catalyse their energy sector reforms and result in a mutually beneficial enlarged energy market based on common rules".
It was agreed that second rounds of negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova would be organized in February 2009 in Brussels.
