Representatives of energy sector organizations from Central and Eastern Europe today signed the Declaration on Energy Security and Competitiveness in Central and Eastern Europe in Sofia.
The signing ceremony took place at the Grand Hotel Sofia during the international CEE Energy Alliance Initiative conference, organized by the Bulgarian Petroleum and Gas Association (BPGA) under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The participants aim to jointly address the challenges facing Central and Eastern European countries and bring the region’s perspective to the dialogue with national and European institutions. The initiative provides for meetings among the participating organizations every six months.
At the heart of the declaration is the need for solutions that combine secure and predictable energy supplies, favorable conditions for investment, and access to energy at competitive costs for consumers.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of a European energy landscape shaped by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and price volatility, factors that have tested the resilience of the European energy system in recent years. At the same time, the declaration reaffirms the signatory organizations’ commitment to the European Union’s climate objectives, including achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Topics discussed during the conference included geopolitical and regulatory challenges facing the energy sector, such as the Methane Emissions Regulation (MER) and the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), the economic impact of ETS2, gas supply security, and the development of energy infrastructure.
The Energy Employers’ Federation (FPE) of Romania was represented by a delegation led by Franck Neel, President of FPE, who signed the declaration alongside the five other representatives of the partner associations. FPE also participated in sessions focused on geopolitical and regulatory challenges facing the fuels sector, as well as gas supply security and energy infrastructure development. Through its participation, FPE contributed the perspective of Romania’s energy industry to the regional dialogue.
“It is important that we join forces and have a common voice, representing six associations from six countries, in order to strengthen our message in the dialogue with policymakers and other relevant stakeholders at European level. We share common priorities: security of supply, access to energy at competitive costs, sustainability, and favorable conditions for investment. The members of our organizations represent thousands of employees who contribute every day to providing energy to European consumers. The industry’s perspective needs to be heard in order to safeguard energy security and jobs in Europe. A common voice can provide the foundation for an ongoing regional dialogue.”- Franck Neel, President of the Energy Employers’ Federation (FPE)
The Declaration on Energy Security and Competitiveness in Central and Eastern Europe was signed by six organizations from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia: the Bulgarian Petroleum and Gas Association (BPGA), the Czech Association of Petroleum Industry and Trade (CAPPO), the Hellenic Petroleum Marketing Companies Association, the Polish Petroleum Industry and Trade Organisation (POPiHN), the Energy Employers’ Federation (FPE), and the Slovak Association of Fuel Industry and Trade (SAPPO).