|
Main
Information
Documents
Publications
Papers
Teaching stuff
Links
Contacts
Русский
|
|
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION
IN THE ENERGY SECTOR BETWEEN THE MINISTRY FOR FUEL AND ENERGY OF THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Moscow, 11 February 1999
The undersigned:
as the Minister for Fuel and Energy of the Russian Federation, Minister
Generalov,
and the Member of the European Commission responsible for Energy, Commissioner
Papoutsis;
- considering the framework of the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation
signed between the European Communities and their Member States, of
the one part, and the Russian Federation of the other part;
- bearing in mind the Second EU-Russian Industrialists' Round Table
of May 1998, at which EU and Russian industrialists acknowledged the
positive developments in industrial cooperation and expressed their
readiness to contribute to further progress;
- recognising the strategic need for closer cooperation in the field
of energy between the European Communities and the Russian Federation;
- recognising the added value of a framework of cooperation specific
to the energy sector to promote the efficient production and use of
energy and to foster investment in the sector;
- considering the importance of furthering the links between industries
of the Russian Federation and the European Communities for the mutual
benefit of both parties;
- bearing in mind the necessity of a continuous dialogue to develop
a coherent and mutually reinforcing energy policy between the European
Communities and the Russian Federation;
- noting the achievements made in industrial cooperation in the nuclear
sector with a view to creating the conditions for enhanced cooperation;
- acknowledging the achievements of Technical Assistance projects and
of the Synergy Industrial Cooperation Initiative (hereinafter referred
to as "the Initiative") implemented with the support of the European
Community;
give their full endorsement to the furthering of industrial cooperation
in the energy sector, primarily with reference to the joint activities between
the European Union and Russia, and notably through the proposed activities
of the Industrial Cooperation Initiative, which it is intended will include
the following:
- measures to facilitate access to finance for cooperation initiatives
in the energy sector;
- activities in support of the promotion of trade and co-operation between
EU and Russian companies active in the energy sector;
- measures to encourage the promotion of energy efficient practices
in the energy sector; and training activities and personnel development.
The undersigned will promote cooperation activities and projects to foster
industrial cooperation in the energy sector, taking into account possibilities
existing under the Tacis programme.
The undersigned also undertake to continue the process of establishing a
permanent and effective dialogue on energy policy issues of mutual importance
in the context of the relevant PCA Sub-Committee and with the industry.
Regarding the Initiative, the undersigned:
- will work together for the successful development and implementation
of the Initiative's activities;
- call upon the International Financial Institutions (particularly the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the IFC) to consider
possible involvement in the proposed activities of the Initiative;
- call upon the energy industry of the European Union and the Russian
Federation to involve themselves fully in the process of cooperation
defined by the Initiative.
In particular, special consideration will be given to the development
of a Leasing Fund, financed from a variety of commercial and institutional
sources, designed to provide lease finance to Russian and European Union
enterprises in the energy sector. Furthermore, special emphasis will be
placed on promoting energy efficient technologies and equipment. Institutional
support will concentrate on disseminating the results and on expanding
EU-Russian trade enabled by access to finance.
With this in mind, the undersigned recommend continuing the process of
industrial cooperation, as represented in the Initiative, in order to
develop further links between industries in the energy sectors in the
European Union and the Russian Federation, to work together for the achievement
of common aims.
This memorandum does not create rights and obligations under international
law between the undersigned; it is intended as a declaration of political
intention.
Signed in Moscow on 11 February 1999 in two copies in Russian and in
English. Both versions are equally authentic.
|
|
