ENTSOG develops cooperation with non-EU Gas Transmission Companies
On 18 April, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) hosted the first meeting of the External Contact Platform (ECP), a platform developed by ENTSOG and the Energy Community Secretariat, to strengthen ENTSOG’s cooperation with non-EU gas transmission companies, including those from the Energy Community countries.
This strengthened cooperation will also be supporting the aims of the Third Energy Package gas acquis, regarding coordination of technical cooperation between the EU and third country gas transmission companies.
The first meeting was well represented, with gas transmission companies from the Energy Community attending, as well as the Norwegian upstream system operator Gassco. Some of the topics addressed included the development and implementation process of the EU gas Network Codes, challenges associated with security of supply issues, the way of working of the Regional Cooperation (ReCo) Teams, as well as infrastructure related activities.
Jan Ingwersen, ENTSOG General Manager commented, “It was a pleasure to welcome all the participants and to share views on the implementation of the 3rd Energy legislative package by the Energy Community Contracting Parties. It is important to have a forum on management level to exchange information and views on gas transmission related activities.”
Janez Kopač, Energy Community Secretariat Director said, “This platform provides a further link between the Energy Community and EU transmission system operators needed to overcome the challenges of Third Energy Package implementation. It is an important step towards the seamless functioning of the European gas transmission systems.”
The ECP meetings will take place twice a year, in addition to the more specialized workshops and the more operational oriented meetings which are already taking place between members of the Energy Community and ENTSOG.
The next ECP meeting is planned for October 2018.
