Baku Initiative

Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates The Baku Initiative is an international initiative of the European Union.<ref name=iea> Template:Cite book </ref> It is a policy dialogue on energy and transport cooperation between the European Union and the littoral states of the Black Sea, Caspian Sea and their neighbours, undertaken as part of the INOGATE energy and TRACECA transport programmes.<ref name=icbss> Template:Cite journal </ref><ref name=tonus> Template:Cite conferenceTemplate:Dead link </ref>

History

The Baku Initiative is originating from the European Neighbourhood Policy launched in 2004.<ref name=tonus/><ref name=henderson/> On 13 November 2004, the First Ministerial Conference on Energy Cooperation between the EU and the littoral states of the Black Sea, Caspian Sea and their neighbours was held in Baku.<ref name=icbss/><ref name=tonus/><ref name=denison> Template:Cite journal </ref> Conclusions of this conference became known as the Baku Initiative.<ref name=henderson> Template:Cite book </ref> At the same time, a Transport Ministeral conference was held, resulting in a formal announcement on 14 November, supporting the framework of the EU TRACECA programme. A second Ministerial Conference following up the Energy Initiative was held in Astana, Kazakhstan on 30 November 2006.<ref name=icbss/><ref name=amineh/><ref name=gheorghe> Template:Cite book </ref><ref name=youngs/><ref name=ens> Template:Cite news </ref> A second Transport Ministerial Conference was held in Sofia, Bulgaria on 2–3 May 2006.<ref name="Baku Initiative">European Commission Transport Directorate website, Baku Initiative</ref>

Objectives

Energy

The Initiative aims to enhance integration of the energy markets of participating countries with the EU energy market so as to create transparent energy markets, capable of attracting investment as well as enhancing security of energy supply.<ref name=ens/><ref name=wunderlich> Template:Cite book </ref> Some authors describe this aim as European funding and investment for infrastructure development in return for a guarantee of supplies to European markets.<ref name=youngs> Template:Cite book </ref>

The objectives of the initiative are harmonisation of legal and technical standards so as to create a functioning integrated energy market in accordance with EU and international legal and regulatory frameworks; increasing the safety and security of energy supplies by extending and modernising existing infrastructure; substituting old and inefficient power generation infrastructures with environmentally friendly power generation infrastructures; developing new infrastructures and implementing a modern monitoring system of their operation; improvement of energy supply and demand management through the integration of efficient and sustainable energy systems; and promoting the financing of commercially and environmentally viable energy projects of common interest. A road map to achieve these objectives was adopted at the Astana Ministerial Conference.<ref name=icbss/><ref name=henderson/><ref name=amineh> Template:Cite book </ref><ref name=youngs/><ref name=ens/> The road map lists following priorities:

• Enhancing energy security addressing demand, supply and transit;
• Supporting sustainable energy development;
• Attracting investment;
• Converging of energy markets on the basis of EU internal energy market principles.<ref name=denison/><ref name=prange>

Template:Cite conference </ref>

These activities were financed through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank.<ref name=youngs/>

Transport

According to the EU Transport Directorate, 'The Baku Initiative aims to give an impulse to Trans-European transport cooperation on the basis of the mutual interest for the progressive integration of their respective transport networks and markets in accordance with EU and international legal and regulatory frameworks. It provides a supportive framework for TRACECA to foster the reflection on the cooperation between the EU-Black Sea/Caspian littoral States and their Neighbours, and to ensure the consistency with the EU priorities in the context of its Neighbourhood Policy.

Following the conclusions reached at the EU-Caspian region Transport Ministerial Conference on 14 November 2004 in Baku, 4 expert working groups have been created (aviation, security in all modes of transport, road and rail transport, transport infrastructure).'<ref name="Baku Initiative"/>

Following the Sofia meeting in 2006, a fifth working group was added, dealing with maritime transport.

Partner countries of the Baku Initiative

The partner countries of the energy aspects of the Baku Initiative are:<ref name=tonus/><ref name=gheorghe/><ref name=ens/>

The partners for transport issues are as above, without Russia, but with, additionally, Romania and Bulgaria.

Structure

The European Union follows the progress of the Baku Initiative through the European Commission (Directorate General for Transport & Energy; Directorate General for External Relations, and EuropeAid Cooperation Office). The INOGATE Technical Secretariat (which is located in Kiev, with a regional office in Tbilisi covering the Caucasus) co-ordinates the energy aspects on behalf of the Commission and the TRACECA Secretariat, (which is located in Baku with a regional office in Odessa) performs the same function for the transport aspects.<ref name=talus> Template:Cite book </ref>

Critics

Some experts, e.g. Frank Umbach of Centre for European Security Strategies, have criticised the Baku Initiative and other policies towards the Caspian region for concentrating too much on the technical cooperation instead of seeking a more strategic long-term cooperation.<ref name=umbach> Template:Cite book </ref>

See also

• INOGATE
• TRACECA
• Energy policy of the European Union
• Transport in the European Union

External links

• Baku Initiative (European Commission (DG TREN))
• Baku Initiative (Transport)
• Ministerial Declaration on Enhanced energy co-operation between the EU, the Littoral States of the Black and Caspian Seas and their neighbouring countries, 30 November 2006, Astana
• Results of the 2nd Meeting of the Working Groups in 2006 on the ‘Baku Initiative’, INOGATE Secretariat, 16 July 2006