Russia-EU inter-parliamentary group to draft proposals on Third Energy Package exemptions
MOSCOW. Feb 13 (Interfax) - The Russian-EU inter-parliamentary working group for energy, which held its inaugural meeting at the State Duma on February 13, will draft proposals to resolve discord over the Third Energy Package, Ivan Grachev, head of the Duma committee on energy and of the working group from Russia, told reporters.
"We'll have to ratify the agreements which I think we'll arrive at. If we eventually do ratify these agreements then we [the working group] would be better off drafting them, by way of participation," Grachev said.
Grachev aired the provisions of the Third Energy Package that were not to Russia's liking during the working group's meeting. "For example the strategy that it is necessary to try and organize all imports in such a way as they are conducted in strict keeping with European laws and everybody else has to follow those laws that Europe adopts, based on the Third Energy Package. It is fairly difficult to describe this as correct or reasonable, given our mutual interest," he said.
Then there is the absence in the package of a so-called grandfather's clause, which would guarantee the stability of existing contracts. "It's decisions on whether property can be taken away or the rules can be changed fundamentally from the investor's point of view after investment has been made," Grachev said.
"Clearly we have to draw some conclusions in the framework of our working group. This will either be part of an agreement or a separate agreement, it makes no difference to us. Work on a separate energy agreement would be quicker," Grachev said.
He also said members of the inter-parliamentary group had signed a joint statement following the first session. The sides stated that the group's aim is to improve legislation behind energy security and energy cooperation, including in the gas sector, power generation, the oil industry and petrochemicals, renewable energy, energy saving and energy efficiency, in the scientific and technological spheres, investment in energy and staff training.
The sides expressed their understanding of the need for the evolution of the Third Energy Package, which currently creates difficulties for the development of the gas business.
Doubt was expressed over the economic feasibility of decisions to change the established synchronous operations of the energy systems of the Baltic States and Russia, the statement reads.
The parliamentarians also expressed the need to observe environmental demands when extracting energy resources from the subsoil, especially shale gas in densely populated areas and when implementing large-scale energy projects.