Joint press announcement GRI REM NW WS Bonn 8 and 9 Feb 2007

On 8 and 9 February 2007, the North West Regional Energy Market of ERGEG's Gas Regional Initiative entered its next stage. The implementation phase was kicked off with a two-day conference hosted by the German regulatory authority Bundesnetzagentur in Bonn. Under the chairmanship of the Dutch regulatory authority DTe, 100 representatives from the gas industry including shippers, traders, customers, network operators, and regulators discussed together in seven workshops some of the key barriers to further market integration in the region.

Bundesnetzagentur President Matthias Kurth said that in the context of the energy market policy of the EU Commission, the Gas Regional Initiative played a vital role in taking forward the actual work 'on the ground'. Mr Kurth emphasised the uniqueness of this joint project, which is based on voluntary co-operation between market parties. DTe Director Peter Plug stressed that the work on the seven priorities would lead to real progress in the short to mid-term – although the continued support of all parties will be crucial to the success of the process.

Each of the seven workshops was designed to facilitate a concentrated working environment with a limited number of participants and a clear focus on one of the seven issues identified for this Regional Energy Market – and which were agreed by stakeholders previously. Members of the Stakeholders' Group discussed the outcomes of several questionnaires and discussion papers drafted on Interconnections Primary Market, Regulatory Coordination, Interconnection Secondary Market, Transparency, Day ahead capacity auctions, Balancing, and Hubs.

The RCC for the North West welcomed the positive attitude of stakeholders at the workshop. The next steps will now need to be set down and it will be crucial that those who are responsible for making improvements in the way the gas market operates do so. Workshop participants were pleased that the Gas Regional Initiative has stayed on track and is continuing to make good progress.