Moscow, 17 October 2003. Yesterday, 16 October, participants of the Electricity Roundtable within the Energy Dialogue between the European Union and Russia adopted a joint statement. They emphasized that the synchronous operation of the CIS and Baltics' energy systems with the European energy pool is "one of the best technological solutions" which make it possible to "increase efficiency of the competitive market for electricity in Europe".

Russian Vice-Prime Minister Victor Khristenko said Russian specialists believe that synchronous operation of the energy systems in ex-USSR republics with Europe's energy pool is "the best technical solution to overcome the artificial technological frontier between the West and the East". For the purpose of promoting this project, Khristenko suggested establishing a joint task force to develop resolutions and recommendations to be used as a basis for the directives of the authorities involved.

Mr Fran?ois Lamoureux, Director-General of Directorate General Energy and Transport stated that it is advisable to prepare a joint report on the joint efforts between the EU and Russia in implementing the synchronous operation of the energy systems.

Yesterday, the European Union for the Co-ordination of Transmission of Electricity (UCTE*) reiterated its support of the interconnection between the East and the West "as a platform for market development" in the electricity systems of Europe and the CIS/Baltic States. UCTE reported further steps towards an in-depth feasibility study of the project together with their colleagues from Russia, the CIS and the Baltics.

* UCTE - The "Union for the Co-ordination of Electricity Transmission" (UCTE) is the association of trans-mission system operators in continental Europe. UCTE members are the companies responsible for synchronous frequency system interconnection in Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the FYROM, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland, Poland, the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The system operator of Denmark is UCTE associated member.

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