The Secretary General Dr. Rusnák welcomed the delegates:

"I am delighted to see so many flags of countries who are joining us for the first time. The negotiations on an updated Energy Charter are an ambitious project which will require good organisation and discipline. The Energy Charter Secretariat is keen to assist you in this process".

The presentation of the draft text, which will be the basis of the negotiations, was followed by statements by the heads of delegations outlining their experience of energy cooperation to date and their expectations of the outcome of the negotiations. There were statements by the delegations of Egypt, Nigeria, China, Morocco, the Palestinian National Authority, Indonesia, South Africa and Iran.

As the depository of the 1991 Energy Charter, the Netherlands offered to host an Ad Hoc High-Level Conference in The Hague in early 2015, where it is expected that the updated Energy Charter will be adopted. The Energy Envoy of the Netherlands, Mr. Aad van Bohemen commented:

"today is a landmark for connecting the past with the future. I encourage all delegations present to actively engage in the negotiations of the updated Energy Charter, which will carry the most important elements of the past, but adjusted to today's demands, the demands of a modern and global energy constellation".

The next session of negotiations will take place on 23-24 June 2014, with further meetings planned in September and October.