(8 February 2010) The European Commission has commissioned a study on the effects of opening the markets for electricity and gas in the Energy Community Countries. It is a study that is similar as the one done for the EU in 2007 (EcoTec).
The study is the result of pressure of EPSU in the European social dialogue electricity and in gas. Together with the employers we have asked the Commission to undertake this study. The study will help us to underline the major issues of concern, such as (...)

Press Communication, 17 December 2009
The 2nd Social Forum of the Energy Community showed that much progress needs to be made by the Members of the Energy Community to integrate the social dimension. In several countries the National Social Actions were not considered sufficient and some countries did not even have one more then 2 years after signing the Memorandum of Understanding on the Social Aspects of the Memorandum. The progress is so slow that questions have been raised in the (...)

(16 December 2009) The Ukrainian Minister Pavlusha has indicated that with the order of The Cabinet of Ministers No 64994/1/1-09 dated November, 24th 2009 up to the request of the trade union leaders No 01-10-293 dated November, 11th 2009 the Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine replies its general support of signing the Memorandum on Understanding on Social Issues in frames of Energy Community.
The government has indicated that it will act when a member of the Energy Community. This will (...)

(7 December 2009) Danish MEP Britta Thomsen has asked the European Commission to report on progress regarding the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on the social aspects, the national action plans and the involvement of Ukraine, Moldova and observers such as Georgia and Turkey.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-5594/09
by Britta Thomsen (S&D)
to the Commission
Subject: The social aspects of the Energy Community
The European Union signed the Energy Community Treaty and created (...)

(26 October 2009) Professor for Energy Policy Steve Thomas of the University of Greenwich and PSIRU explained the implications of competition in electricity. He introduced the European Union Directives (...) read the full article

(15 October 2009) Government representatives presented their national action plans at the Social Forum. As several were late or not available participants criticized the lack of progress and this is reflected in the conclusions of the Forum. The conclusions will be presented to the Ministerial Council in December. The importance of social dialogue was stressed and that more is needed to develop this. The Forum further discussed affordability issues as prices are increasing and in several (...)

(October 2009) Translation is now available: Pravičan udeo? Plate, profiti i dividende u sektoru energetike – analiza najnovijih trendova u evropskim multinacionalnim kompanijama u energetskom sektoru

(21 September 2009) Goran Petrovic, the Serbian State Secretary for energy made the statement during a debate with the energy trade unions of South East Europe. He argued that Serbia and other countries will need qualified workers to be able to build new capacity and infrastructure. Mr. Petrovic discussed the issue of privatization of the electricity and gas company. This is not on the cards for his government but he does see a role for the private sector in bringing in new investment. This (...)

(17 June 2009) The main purpose of the workshop was to consider the national action plans to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on the Social Aspects of the Energy Community. The governments of the Member States were to submit their plans by 1 June 2009. The results are poor. Few countries have done so. “We need concrete measures to address the job losses expected in these action plans” said EPSU’s Deputy General Secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan.
Other contributions covered health and (...)

(15 December 2008) The Ministerial Council, bringing together the Energy Ministers from the Energy Community countries and the European Commission approved the results of the Social Forum in Tirana. The Ministers conclude (point 11): The Ministerial Council noted the information presented by the Secretariat on the first Social Forum held in November 2008 in Tirana. They underlined the importance of the initiative and welcomed the strong involvement of the social partners.
The Permanent (...)