Energy ministers from the member states of the Energy Community met at the Energy Community Ministerial Council to discuss key priorities such as energy security, market integration, climate policies, and environmental protection, reaffirming a shared direction between the European Union and the Contracting Parties for Europe’s energy future.
In the context of profound changes in the energy sector, officials emphasized that pre-accession integration with the EU energy market has become essential for ensuring a shared, secure, and sustainable energy future. “The energy landscape has fundamentally changed. Early integration with the EU energy market is no longer an option; it is a necessity,” stated Artur Lorkowski, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat.
A central topic of the meeting was energy supply security, particularly in light of the European Union’s efforts to gradually phase out gas imports from the Russian Federation. The ministers adopted the EU’s obligations on natural gas storage within the Energy Community, extending European rules on winter preparedness and crisis response to the Contracting Parties. This decision strengthens regional coordination and will help ensure predictable gas supplies despite the risks arising from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Several Contracting Parties are also approaching a decisive stage in electricity market integration ahead of EU accession, having fully or nearly fully transposed the Electricity Market Integration Package. Subject to compliance verification by the European Commission, these advances could pave the way for coupling electricity markets with the EU internal market before accession. Serbia is already in the verification stage, and the Republic of Moldova has completed full transposition of the package.
Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a coherent and predictable framework that supports electricity market integration while creating the conditions necessary for the transition to clean energy. In this context, the Contracting Parties will develop national carbon pricing models adapted to domestic circumstances, while maintaining coordination to ensure consistency with the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
To maintain the accelerated development of renewable energy, Energy Community member states will intensify efforts to achieve mutual recognition of Guarantees of Origin with the European Union, thereby facilitating full integration of renewable energy markets. Participants also emphasized the importance of the efficient and coordinated implementation of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans (INECPs).
In his intervention, Dorin Junghietu, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Moldova, reaffirmed the country’s firm commitment to the Energy Community and to building a secure, competitive, and integrated regional energy market. “The achievements of the Republic of Moldova this year demonstrate remarkable progress and create a solid foundation for the next stage. This stage means implementation and integration: full market operation, deepening regional coupling, strengthening interconnections, and turning reforms into tangible benefits for citizens and the business environment,” the minister stated.
