Conference on EU Security of Energy Supply in Ostrava

Under the auspices of Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra the conference “In Search for Security of Energy Supply of the EU Member States on the Common Electricity Market” is held in Ostrava on 30 January.

The conference will be attended by Czech Prime Minister and President of the EU Council Mirek Topolánek, European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Waldemar Pawlak and Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Říman. Top representatives of companies such as ČEPS, ČEZ and E.ON will also make an appearance. Among the main topics of the conference are the development of transmission network systems and securing productive sources and the legislative framework for the internal energy market.

The Czech Republic has singled out energy as one of the main priorities of its Presidency of the EU Council. The recent crisis regarding the supply of gas to the EU Member States confirmed that the issue of energy security has a crucial and highly topical significance. An important means of strengthening the energy security of the EU is the accomplishment of the internal energy market and quality trans-border transmission networks. The Czech Presidency will thus strive for successful finalisation of the legislative process in this area. The outcome of today’s conference in Ostrava may also help to formulate the new EU Plan of Action for energy in 2010 – 2012, the form of which the Czech Presidency will begin to discuss in the spring.