Download the Plan of Action at: www.ceinet.org/download/CEIPoA2007-2009_Revised.pdf

The Central European Initiative (CEI) is composed of 18 Member States: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.

This is the second CEI Plan of Action (PoA) covering a three year period, this time from 2007 to 2009. The previous one (2004 to 2006) was already paying special attention to the aspect of feasibility, in other words it was focused on the attainable rather than the desirable. Not surprisingly, certain assumptions made when drawing up this PoA turned out to be too optimistic or too ambitious but, on the whole, - also thanks to better financial conditions - both the quality and quantity of implementation proved that the basic concept was functional and should be maintained.

The Plan of Action includes sections on Sustainable Energy, Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Efficience as described below, as well as transport, SMEs, tourism, climate, etc. See the full report for further information.

Sustainable Energy

Sustainable growth is a top priority in Central and Eastern Europe closely linked to energy matters. In this regard, the CEI identified as core issues of its activities the promotion and development of energy efficiency, security of energy supply and know-how transfer as well as research and development of renewable energy sources. In this framework the CEI wishes to act as a platform for the adoption of sustainable development related policies, to strengthen the co-operation among Member States and to support measures to facilitate investment and enhance dissemination and information in the field.

For the period covered by the Plan of Action, the use of the CEI Trust Fund at the EBRD will permit to sponsor technical co-operation in line with the Bank's selective approach by concentrating on the conversion of state-owned utilities into joint stock companies, the improvement in financial management practices and in efficiency and system security; fostering the process of the industry's de-monopolisation and market restructuring; improving the regulatory framework ahead of privatisations, and tariff reforms.

In order to sensitise the international audience to the energy issues and the CEI priorities in particular, the CEI intends to organise annually a public conference as a "CEI Feature Event", specifically dedicated to an exchange of know-how and experience between CEI EU-Member States and Non-EU-Member States and having - in the longer term - the further goal of facilitating the identification of concrete investment projects as well as opportunities in the context of EU programmes (particularly the Energy Intelligence Europe Programme - EIE) and other sources of funding.

Renewable Energy Sources

Since one of the main resources of all countries is their territory, the CEI will focus - as a first priority - on the primary renewable energy sources which are available: biomass appears to be the most promising target for at least two reasons: a) the huge amount of organic by-products provided by agriculture and forestry related activities and b) the possibility to use conventional technologies by the countries which cannot count on a highly developed energy industry. In this regard, the CEI is planning to support ad-hoc projects, programmes and activities.

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is a key issue in the CEI Member States and particularly in the Balkan Region which are much more energy intensive. The CEI intends to support region-wide projects aiming at promoting a sustainable energy development strategy by enhancing regional co-operation on energy efficiency and investment project development.