Europe Environment
March 18, 2005

TWELVE BLACK SEA COUNTRIES PLEDGE TO COOPERATE ON ENERGY.

The twelve member countries of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Organisation (BSEC) have pledged to cooperate on the creation of a
regional energy market following an inter-ministerial meeting in
Greece on March 4. The twelve Energy Ministers or their
representatives signed a joint declaration. The signatories notably
affirm their readiness to diversify energy transport options, adopt
common ground rules, enhance transport safety and take account of
environmental considerations. “Our aim is to expand the range of oil
and gas exports, enhance cooperation in the electricity sector and
create an environment conducive to investment in the region”, said
Greek Minister Dimitris Soufias. “The key word is networking. Black
Sea and Caspian Sea energy sources must reach the European market”,
he added. Greece has held the revolving half-yearly presidency of the
BSEC since November. The other members are Albania, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia and
Montenegro, Turkey and Ukraine. Greece alone is both a member of the
EU and NATO.