Opening hearings, the Committee Chair Mykola Martynenko stressed that “the fact that the people’s deputies of Ukraine, foreign guests, representatives of the diplomatic corps, different branches of Ukrainian authorities, scientist, publicity, and mass media representatives are present in this hall, testifies to the fact that the issues that will be considered are extremely topical, especially in view of such important events as the Summit in Vilnius in November this year, where it is planned to sign the Association Agreement with EU”.
M.Martynenko drew attention to the fact that Ukraine has acceded to the Energy Community Treaty in 2009. The respective Protocol was signed in September 2010 and was ratified on December 15, 2010 by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The Chairman of the parliamentary Committee noted that Ukraine’s accession to the Energy Community has established potential for carrying out comprehensive market reforms in the sphere of energy that aim at integration into the European energetic space.
As mentioned during the discussion, the main challenges that prevent us from fulfilling commitments to the Energy Community are as follows:
high energy intensity and low efficiency of use off energy resources;
energy subsidies;
imperfect regulatory framework of market transformations;
low investment climate, etc.
It was noted there is no efficient control over the execution of measures within the framework of the Protocol concerning the accession of Ukraine to the Energy Community on the part of executive authorities.
Participants of hearings outlined several problems in the sphere of fulfillment of commitments, made by Ukraine.
It was also stressed that Ukrainian gas transport system requires comprehensive modernization and repair for its capacity growth in order to ensure continuous gas transport necessary for Ukraine and the EU.
Speakers paid attention to the fact that reorganization of NJSC “Naftogas of Ukraine” is carried out without clear and coherent programme, which complicates the introduction of EU norms on liberalization of gas market.
Following the result of the discussion, the participants adopted several recommendations according to which, the Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety shall address the government with the proposals to: accelerate the process of reorganization of the National joint-stock company “Naftogaz of Ukraine”; improve necessary legal and technical basis in order to obtain a possibility of implementing reversible flow of gas; accelerate the elaboration of the bill on National action plan for energy efficiency till 2020; etc.
As it was emphasized during the hearings, these and other recommendations will be worked on in the Committee aiming at their future implementation.