Ukrainian NGOs and Think-Tanks Discuss Energy Security Issues with EU Policy-Makers

The Corporate Relations Research Centre, European Association of
Ukrainians, and the Public Committee for National Security of Ukraine
have opened a series of discussions between the EU and Ukraine experts
in the form of the International Round Table "European Union and
Ukraine: issues of energy security".

The event, held in Brussels, gathered members of the European
Parliament, representatives of think-tanks and NGOs, energy experts
and media.

The participants of the round table's first session paid special
attention to the EU's energy strategy and its impact on Ukraine, the
role of transit countries in maintaining Europe's energy security, the
need for investment into the energy transportation systems in Ukraine,
and the potential creation of energy-related consortia.

According to Jerzy Buzek, MEP from Poland and former Polish Prime
Minister, Ukraine could help the EU's energy strategy implementation,
especially in its provisions on security, reliability and
competitiveness. Mr. Buzek stressed that Ukraine could help the EU in
decreasing its dependence on Russian energy supplies, and the
expansion of the Odessa - Brody oil pipeline to Gdansk could
contribute greatly to diversifying energy supplies.

"We are open to cooperation with Russia, but we don't want to be
too dependent on Russian energy resources," Buzek noted.

Oleksii Tolkachov, head of the Public Committee for the National
Security of Ukraine noted that "Ukrainian civil society is able to do
everything required for assuring Ukraine's reliability as an energy
partner of the European Union." Mr. Tolkachov believes that one of the
highest-priority tasks for Ukraine is a revision of the national
Energy Strategy of Ukraine through 2030 and changing it in accordance
with the European Strategy of the EU.

Speaking on the priorities for Ukraine, Guntars Krasts, MEP and
former Vice-Prime-Minister of Latvia, pointed to the problem of
Ukrainian energy legislation reform and the establishment of
transparent and stable programs on the energy market that are
controlled by civil society.

During the Roundtable the Corporate Relations Research Centre
presented a special report "The Problem of Energy Security: New Energy
Policy of the EU and Ukraine", analyzing Ukraine-EU energy
co-operation conditions, and the potential and opportunities of
Ukraine's energy sector development.

Rostyslav Ishchenko, VP at the Corporate Relations Research
Centre, pointed out the need for trilateral negotiations and
co-operation for ensuring European energy security. Mr. Ishchenko
believes that the EU, as an energy resources consumer, Russia, as a
supplier and Ukraine, as a transit country, should work together on
settling all conflicting issues.

Speaking about the risk of constructing new gas pipelines
bypassing Ukraine, Rostyslav Ishchenko suggested that the best way to
eliminate such a risk for Ukraine would be a return to considering the
creation of a three-sided gas transportation consortium with Russia
and the EU.

At the closing of the session, the participants of the round table
approved a final declaration calling for wide-ranging co-operation
among the countries producing, using, and transporting energy
resources.