EUROPE: GAS COOPERATION

The Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Hungary and Bulgaria yesterday made a multilateral commitment to greater cooperation on economic development and energy security.

At a Natural Gas Europe and IPM conference in Vienna, the three bodies issued a mutual statement in which they agreed to work together to convene a forum to coordinate energy policies to increase prosperity for the region. The proposed forum will be open to their respective members, governments and neighbours in the Central, Eastern and Southern European region. The Chambers have decided to name the forum the Danube Energy Initiative and a final agreement would be achieved in Budapest in September.

In the statement, the Chambers of Commerce settled to cooperate to guarantee better access to secure energy sources, ensure the liberalisation of the energy market and enable competitive pricing.

Zeljko Sertic, President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, said: "I am delighted that the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Hungary and Bulgaria yesterday signed a joint agreement committing to the creation of a new forum and I look forward to working closely with my colleagues in Hungary and Bulgaria on this project."

"This forum will work to coordinate between the governments, businesses and civil society organisations of our respective countries to ensure that we all have more coordinated energy policies, designed to create greater prosperity for all."

oilandgaseurasia.com