EU ministers meeting in the Energy Council last week have called for the extension of the Energy Community Treaty beyond 2016.

Welcoming the “the progress concerning the integration of the Energy Community with the EU, in particular the accession of the Republic of Moldova and of Ukraine, as well as Armenia's observer status in the Energy Community”, the Council conclusions on strengthening the external dimension of the EU energy policy.

The document sets the following priorities for enhancing and extending the Energy Community:

(i) encouraging full and timely implementation and enforcement of the acquis, as well as the removal of technical barriers, aiming at the creation of an Energy Community-wide energy market;

(ii) extending the Energy Community Treaty beyond the year 2016;

(iii) undertaking actions with the view of enlarging the Energy Community Treaty to neighbouring countries provided that they demonstrate both willingness and ability to implement and enforce relevant EU legislation;

(iv) continuing cooperation with Turkey, aiming at integration of the country into the Energy Community;