South-western European countries must devise sound new energy policies, according to two recent IEA workshop sessions. It feels there is the need to establish the necessary institutions to implement them to catch up with the energy sector reforms realised by their Central European neighbours. Unless this is done, says the IEA, liberalising the domestic retail electricity markets or creating a Regional Energy Market (REM) is "not realistic by 2005". Aggressive reform is also essential for eventual integration into the internal EU energy market.
The workshops were organised by the IEA in conjunction with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Slovene Oil Stockholding Agency (ZORD). After years of economic recession and isolation, South-east European countries face major challenges in achieving the market reforms necessary to rebuild their economies. <P> Success in strengthening their infrastructure, notably energy infrastructure, is crucial for economic recovery. Low energy prices, poor management and high losses have undercut the viability of energy sectors in the region....
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Approx 450 words from CoalTrans International, November/December 2002,
page 4.
