Strengthening of the INOGATE Technical Secretariat (ITS) in support of the Baku Initative

The INOGATE Programme supports the development of energy cooperation between the EU, the littoral states of the Black & Caspian Seas and their neighbouring countries. It has a larger mandate than when it was created in 1995 and no longer only covers oil and gas sectors. Today's cooperation framework also covers the areas of electricity, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Moreover, the emphasis now lies on energy security, in a broad sense, of both the INOGATE Partner countries and the EU. The enlargement of INOGATE' scope was a two-year process that began on 13 November 2004 with an Energy Ministerial Conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan (known as the Baku Initiative) followed by a second Energy Ministerial Conference in Astana, Kazakhstan on 30 November 2006. At the ministerial conference in Astana the enlarged scope of INOGATE was confirmed specifically through the Energy Road Map which spelled out in detail the areas in which cooperation should be strengthened. The INOGATE Programme now reflects these priorities and its four major objectives have become
1. Convergence of energy markets on the basis of the EU internal energy market principles, taking into account the particularities of the countries involved
2. Enhancing energy security by addressing the issues of energy exports/imports, supply diversification, energy transit and energy demand
3. Supporting sustainable energy development including the development of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and demand side management
4. Attracting investment towards energy projects of common and regional interest
The overall objective of this project is to pursue and expand the services provided by the INOGATE Technical Secretariat, with a view to improving the overall performance of the INOGATE Programme towards achieving the goals defined at the Energy Ministers' Conference held on 30 November 2006 in Astana. The project will aim to
1. Foster dialogue and promote exchange of experiences between INOGATE Partner Countries as well as between these countries and the EU
2. Develop working partnerships with relevant energy stakeholders and help to improve the coordination of all INOGATE activities, as well as the consistency of energy assistance initiatives in the NIS region
3. Increase information flows and access to relevant information sources in the sector concerned
4. Provide assistance to catalyse country reforms
5. Provide ad-hoc support to the EC in the overall coordination and development of the INOGATE Programme