Only five issues remain to be settled in a draft law on essential principles for the functioning of the natural gas market that is being drawn up by the interagency coordination group for the realization of a joint declaration signed after the EU-Ukraine Investment Conference on the modernization of the Ukrainian gas transit system, according to a Ukrainian official.
Deputy Fuel and Energy Minister Serhiy Pavlusha said in an interview
with the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (Mirror Weekly) newspaper that the reform of
the natural gas market is an essential part of the Brussels agreements
between Ukraine and the European Union. The key element of the reform
should be the drawing up of the above-mentioned draft law, which is
based on principles of European law in the sphere.
“During the elaboration of the draft, the group is cooperating with
experts from the European Commission. They, from time to time, take
part in meetings of the working group, as well as checking the
correspondence of the document to the European Union’s requirements. We
and the European Commission consider our cooperation as very
effective,” Pavlusha said.
He said that at present only five issues have not been agreed with
the European Union. Some of them concern terminology, as differences in
the laws of the Ukrainian gas sphere and those of the European Union
make some terms difficult to define. The remaining issues raised by the
European experts mainly concern the division of the functions of gas
transportation and supply, the powers of Ukraine’s National Electricity
Regulatory Commission, and tariff policy.
“We’re continuing to negotiate on the said issues. The drawing up of
a draft law in line with the principles of the free European gas market
is a top priority for the Fuel and Energy Ministry, and this is being
personally overseen by the minister, as this is a condition for the
successful completion of the talks on Ukraine’s membership of the
Energy Community, as well as receiving credit funds to realize
investment projects and credits to create gas stocks for the 2009-2010
winter period,” the deputy minister said.
