Who we are
The Energy Community Secretariat has its seat in Vienna, Austria. Besides the Energy Community Secretariat office in Vienna, the EU4Energy Governance team operates two regional project offices in Kyiv, Ukraine and Tbilisi, Georgia.
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Team
Team
As of 2020, the Secretariat has 38 staff members holding 19 nationalities. In addition, the Secretariat regularly offers internship and secondment opportunities.The recruitment of the Secretariat's staff follows the approved establishment plan of the Energy Community Ministerial Council.
In the performance of its duties, the Secretariat must be impartial and not seek or receive instructions from any Party to the Treaty. -
Director
Director
Since 1 December 2012, the director of the Secretariat is Mr Janez Kopač. Mr Kopač is the second Energy Community director, following Mr Slavtcho Neykov (2007-2012).
Pursuant to Article 75 of the Treaty, the director of the Energy Community Secretariat is responsible for the implementation of the budget. The director also selects and appoints the staff on the basis of the approved establishment plan of the Energy Community.
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Milestones
Milestones
- 1 February 2006 marked the commencement of the Secretariat’s operational activities.
- The official inauguration of the Secretariat followed on 26 June 2006, in the presence of former European Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Andris Piebalgs, and Austrian Minister for Economy, Mr. Martin Bartenstein.
- The Agreement between the Republic of Austria and the Energy Community regarding the seat of the Secretariat of the Energy Community entered into force in August 2007. With the Agreement, the host country granted the Secretariat the privileges and immunities of an international organisation.
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Document Name Published on 30.03.2017- Project phase
Project phase
Prior to the Treaty’s entry into force, an interim Energy Community Secretariat was established as a non-profit association under Austrian law on 1 April 2005. Working on a project basis, the association derived its financing from European Commission CARDS Programme. Its activities were regulated on the grounds of a grant contract between the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labour and the European Commission.
During this pioneer phase, the association wrote a series of quarterly progress reports and country reports, supported the Parties to draft the first road maps and took care of organisation of the institutional events.