Focus on Energy, 2010 - Karanovic & Nikolic

INSTITUTIONS AND DECISIONMAKING BODIES UNDER THE TREATYThe Treaty establishes the institutions and bodies of the Energy Community. These are the:MINISTERIAL COUNCILPERMANENT HIGH LEVEL GROUPREGULATORY BOARDATHENS FORUM SOCIAL FORUM GAS FORUM OIL FORUMSECRETARIAT6FOCUS ON ENERGYMinisterial CouncilThe Ministerial Council ensures that the objectives set out in the Treaty are achieved. It is the principaldecision making body of the Energy Community. In that respect it provides general policy guidelines,takes measures to meet the Treaty’s objectives and adopts procedural acts such as the allocation oftasks, powers or obligations. It is made up of one representative for each party to the Treaty and tworepresentatives of the EU. Also, one non-voting representative of each participant may participate in itsmeetings. The presidency of the Ministerial Council is held in turn by each party for a term of six monthsand is assisted by one representative of the European Union and one representative of the incomingpresidency. The Ministerial Council meets at least once every six months and the meetings are organisedby the Secretariat of the Energy Community (the “Secretariat”). It submits an annual report to theEuropean Parliament and to the parliaments of the adhering parties and the participants.Permanent High Level GroupThe key mission of the Permanent High Level Group is to prepare the work of the Ministerial Council. Italso gives assent to technical assistance requests made by donors and financial institutions, it reports tothe Ministerial Council on the progress of the objectives of the Treaty. It consists of one representativeof each party to the Treaty and two representatives from the EU. One non-voting representative of eachparticipant may participate in its meetings. Meetings of the Permanent High Level Group are convenedand chaired by the presidency and are organised by the Secretariat.Regulatory BoardThe Regulatory Board’s primary role is to advise the Ministerial Council and Permanent High Level Groupon statutory, technical and regulatory rules and to issue recommendations in the event of cross-borderdisputes between regulators. It is composed of one representative of the energy regulator from eachparty to the Treaty, with the EU being represented by the European Commission which is assisted by oneregulator from each of the Participant States, and one representative of the European Regulators Groupfor Electricity and Gas (“ERGEG”). The Regulatory Board meets in Athens.ForumsThe Forums have the task to advise the Energy Community and to provide a medium for open discussionand the voicing of ideas. The Forums are composed of representatives of all interested stakeholders,including industries, regulators, industry representative groups and consumers. Each Forum is chairedby a representative of the EU. The conclusions of the Forums are adopted by consensus and are forwardedto the Permanent High Level Group. The Treaty initially envisaged the existence of two Forums,the already existing Athens Forum and a “Gas Forum” which, for the first time, was hosted in Maribor,