'Liberalising Trade and Investment in the Eurasian Power Sector' attracted over 120 participants and was aimed at stimulating a dialogue between governments, industry and regulators from across the Energy Charter's Eurasian constituency on how an integrated Eurasian electricity market can be achieved whilst ensuring economic efficiency and security of supply for the whole continent in an environmentally sustainable manner. Among the main issues addressed were the role of market integration in reducing investment risks, the role of regulatory bodies in removing obstacles to trade and investments in the power sector, and the challenges of ensuring proper regulation of competitive electricity markets. Discussion also focused on the role of international legal instruments in removing barriers to interregional electricity trade, with a particular emphasis on the relevance of the Energy Charter Treaty, which extends World Trade Organization WTO-based rules to electricity trade between all of its member states, including those that are not yet full members of the WTO.
Participants heard presentations from "RAO UES Rossii" Board member Anatoly Zelinsky on progress made in reforming Russia's electricity sector, from CIS Electric Power Council Executive Committee Chairman Vladimir Djangirov on prospects for establishing synchronous operation of the electricity networks of eastern and western Europe, and from representatives of, among others, EURELECTRIC, the EBRD, OECD, IEA, UNCTAD and Electricité de France on the experience to date of operating regional electricity markets in Eurasia and the lessons learned in terms of obstacles to trade and investment.
