EU Member States, members of the Commission Initiative on Central and South-Eastern European Energy Connectivity (CESEC), and Energy Community Contracting Parties agreed on 28 September to reinforce regional cooperation in addressing energy challenges, as part of a special meeting in Bucharest, Romania.

The meeting brought together nine EU Member States (Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia) and eight Energy Community Contracting Parties (FYROM, Serbia, Ukraine, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Moldova).

The participants agreed on a joint approach to electricity markets, energy efficiency and renewable development. They also established a list of priority projects to build an interconnected regional electricity market, as well as actions to boost renewables and investment in energy efficiency, according to EU Neighbours East Info.

Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič said: "Cooperation under the CESEC umbrella has turned into an exemplary success story, proving that solidarity is the solution. Given its rapid accomplishments in the field of gas, we are expanding the scope of cooperation in the region to electricity, renewables and energy efficiency. It is a positive and powerful message to citizens of the region, with benefits going beyond the energy systems."

The Central and South-Eastern European Energy Connectivity (CESEC) Initiative, launched by the EU in 2015, aims to strengthen solidarity and enable a safer and more affordable gas and electricity supply. It also helps citizens and businesses across Central and South Eastern Europe to improve energy efficiency and access renewable energy.

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