"We need to stop thinking about the markets as national territory. It is necessary to integrate. It is necessary to explore the possibility of joint purchase of gas," - he said, speaking Thursday at Tatra Summit in Bratislava on the eve of his first visit to Kiev, scheduled for November 14th.
Vice president of energy policy proposes to build Energosoiuz EU on five main pillars: 1) security, solidarity and trust; 2) the completion of the internal energy market; 3) containment of demand; 4) decarbonisation of the energy mix of the EU; 5) research and innovation.
Speaking of the first pillar, Shefchovich stressed that the EU currently imports 53% of its energy in the amount of more than 400 billion euros a year, being the largest energy consumer in the world, but its weight in the international arena does not correspond to that status.
"We need to diversify our energy sources and routes, reduce high energy dependence of several Member States," - said vice-president of the European Commission.
He also called on the EU to show solidarity and greater transparency in negotiations with suppliers from third countries and the European Commission's involvement in these negotiations. "Solidarity is the key to ensure the supply of gas," - says Shefchovich.
In his opinion, none of the members of the EU should not change its energy system without prior consultation with the partners, as this may result in a huge impact on their systems.
Vice president of energy policy and called for the early completion of the full-featured, transparent and competitive energy market and the full implementation of the Third Energy Package with the construction of adequate energy infrastructure necessary interconnections, integration of renewable energy and the elimination of energy islands, promising different instruments to finance such projects in the form of structural funds , joint investments and investment package EC.
"In general, you need to combine resources and infrastructure combine to unite our efforts negotiating with third countries", - said Shefchovich.
Ukrainian Truth
