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23.05.2013 Secretary General Rusnák addressed the VI Astana Economic Forum on 23 May 2013. In the session “The New Energy Landscape – Key Drivers of the Energy Future” he spoke about the global development of energy resources and improving energy security. In this context, Amb. Rusnák presented the ongoing process of Energy Charter modernisation as an opportunity to improve global energy governance. Amb. Rusnák had a series of bilateral meetings with high-level Kazakh officials in the margins of the Forum. The Secretary General met with Mr. Asset Issekeshev, Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Industry and New Technologies; Mr. Sauat Mynbayev, Minister of Oil and Gas; Mr. Timur Kulibaev, President of KazEnergy; and Mr. Rapil Joshybaev, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussion focused on the recent Charter activities, Charter modernisation and the important role of Kazakhstan in this process. |
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29.04.2013 Following an invitation from the Ministry of Energy and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Energy Charter launched an in-depth energy efficiency review of the country. The review, performed in accordance with the Energy Charter Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects (PEEREA), began with a visit of Energy Charter experts to Dushanbe on 22-25 April 2013.
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25.04.2013 Secretary General Rusnák participated in the 10th Slovak Annual Congress on Power and Energy held under the auspices of the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on 23-24 April in Bratislava. The focus of the Congress was on "Safety and Security of the Energy Infrastructure, Stable Investment Environment and Innovations - the Way to the Sustainable Energy Future". Amb. Rusnák spoke during the session on the protection of energy infrastructure and security of electricity supply. In his presentation, he addressed both the physical risks of critical infrastructure and regulatory risks related to the distortion of power markets caused by the growing share of renewable energy sources. |
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22.04.2013 The Energy Charter Secretariat was invited to speak at the I Congreso de Arbitraje de Inversión en Iberoamérica organised by the Arbitration Court of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce on 19 April 2013 in Madrid. The Congress, opened by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. José Manuel García-Margallo, gathered high-level experts on international arbitration and prominent law firms specialised in international investments and trade. Minister García-Margallo emphasised the importance of suitable arbitration mechanisms to meet the needs of both multinational firms and small and medium enterprises.
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19.04.2013 On 19 April 2013 the Energy Charter Secretariat held a public hearing on the topic of the Role and Potential of the Energy Charter in Global Energy Governance Reform. Dr. Marat Terterov, the first Research Fellow at the newly established ECS Knowledge Centre, presented his discussion paper on the topic. This paper as well as the input received during the public hearing discussion will serve as a basis for an ECS Knowledge Centre occasional paper to be released by the end of May this year. This will be the first such paper in a new line of Charter publications to be prepared by Knowledge Centre Research Fellows. |
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18.04.2013 Brussels, 17 April 2013 - Secretary General Urban Rusnák has appointed two Special Envoys, Mr. Jan-Meinte Postma and Mr. Mehmet Ögütçü, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty. The Special Envoys have been tasked to represent the Secretary General on key occasions or in specified areas of activities to advance the strategic objectivities of the Energy Charter. |
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17.04.2013 A delegation of the ESC experts headed by Director Defilla participated in the discussion of the ADB report "Asian Development Outlook 2013: Asia's Energy Challenge" organised by the European Institute for Asian Studies in Brussels on 17 April 2013. ADB Associate Chief Economist Dr. Zveglich outlined the key findings of the report related to the challenges of meeting energy demand in developing Asia, the environmental effects of demand growth and the potential of renewable energy sources. In order to improve regional energy cooperation, ADB recommends establishing a Ministerial Task Force with the aim of setting up an integrated pan-Asian market, following the EU example.
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15.04.2013 Secretary General Rusnák attended the Lech Energy Forum on 12 April 2013, which focused on the topic Energy Policy in Europe: the Road Ahead. Amb. Rusnák took part in the panel discussion on the EU's role in regional and global energy markets. The panellists debated the attractiveness of the EU internal energy market for neighbouring countries, as well as the options Europe has in terms of natural gas policies and diversification of supply routes and sources. |
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12.04.2013 On the occasion of the visit of the President of Tajikistan H.E. Emomali Rahmon to Brussels, the Energy Charter Secretariat and the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan held a high-profile investment meeting "New Energy Investment Opportunities of Tajikistan - the Way Forward" on 11 April 2013. Opening the investment meeting, H.E. Emomali Rahmon emphasised the importance of international cooperation and adherence of the Republic of Tajikistan to the rules of international law. In particular, President Rahmon highlighted the long-standing commitment of Tajikistan to the Energy Charter Treaty.
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11.04.2013 A delegation of the ECS experts headed by Mr. Steivan Defilla, Director, took part in the conference "Euro-Mediterranean Rendez-vous on Energy" organised by Medgrid at the European Parliament in Brussels on 11 April 2013. This event addressed the socio-economic context and political challenges of energy cooperation between the North and South Mediterranean from the perspective of electricity interconnection projects. Speakers included senior officials from EU institutions (the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European External Action Service and the European Investment Bank), national senior delegates and energy stakeholders from Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, and political, regulatory and industrial regional associations, such as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, OME, MedTSO, Medreg and Desertec.
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