On July 7-8, Austria hosted a meeting of the High-level Standing Group of the Energy Community and an informal meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community under the presidency of Ukraine.

The meeting of the Standing Group was chaired by Yaroslav Demchenkov, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine for European Integration. During the meeting, the goals of the Energy Community until 2030 regarding energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions were discussed, and attention was paid to the development of the Community's regulatory and legal framework.

One of the topics of the meeting at the initiative of Ukraine was the strengthening of sanctions against the russian federation in the energy sector. "Strengthening of sanctions is especially important in the context of preparations for the heating season, which this year will be difficult both for Ukraine and for the whole of Europe," Yaroslav Demchenkov emphasized.

The informal meeting of the Ministerial Council was chaired by Yaroslav Demchenkov and Deputy Director-General of the European Commission (ENER) Mechthild Wörsdörfer. During the meeting, the issues of strengthening the energy security of the European continent amidst russia's war against Ukraine and energy blackmail of the kremlin, as well as ways of stable supply of energy resources, integration of energy markets were considered.

The contracting parties have previously agreed on ambitious goals for energy efficiency, which include limits on the amount of final and primary energy consumption, incentives for the use of renewable energy sources and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, in line with the commitment to achieve full decarbonization of the economies of their states by 2050. The target indicators will be officially adopted at meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community in December 2022.

"The energy system of the future will require an increase in the share of RES and greater ambitions for energy efficiency. This will help Europe reduce its dependence on russian fossil fuels. For decades, energy served as a weapon of russian foreign policy and was used for blackmail and political pressure on Europe. Therefore, we must minimize russia's ability to use energy as a lever of influence on European states, especially this winter - in the most vulnerable period for both Ukraine and Europe," Yaroslav Demchenkov emphasized.

He added that the plans and goals of the transition from fossil fuels to carbon-neutral energy coincide in Europe and Ukraine. "Common climate goals and plans confirm that Ukraine and Europe complement each other on the way to a clean future," the Deputy Minister of Energy stressed.

The informal Council of Ministers also agreed that one of the most cost-effective ways to support the achievement of decarbonisation goals is the integration of regional electricity markets. This will require timely adoption of the Electricity Regulation and Network Codes and Guidelines at the December Council of Ministers.

During the discussion of energy supply security and preparedness for risks this winter, the Contracting Parties confirmed their intention to urgently adopt the EU Regulation on gas storage in the Energy Community member states.