Minutes BASREC GSEO meeting 2 June, 2010 Vilnius Venue: Lithuanian Exhibition Centre LITEXPO, Laisves av. 5, Vilnius

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1 Minutes BASREC GSEO meeting 2 June, 2010 Vilnius Venue: Lithuanian Exhibition Centre LITEXPO, Laisves av. 5, Vilnius Participants (BASREC GSEO members): Josephine Bahr Ljungdell and Pia Norrman (Sweden), Per Stokholm and Vivi Yieng Kow (Denmark), Ole-Jacob Edna (Norway), Gatis Ābele (Latvia), Ando Möldre (Estonia), Niels Anger (Germany), Žygimantas Vaičiūnas and Liudas Kolesinskas (Lithuania) Participants (others): Janne Marijke de Jong (NCM), Arne Grove (NCM), Stefan Herms (Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg), Viktoria Nilsson (BDF) AGENDA 1. Adoption of the Agenda and approval of the protocol of the February GSEO meeting 2. Approval of the project proposals: 2.1. For the minutes Project proposals for implementation accepted by the GSEO partly at the GSEO meeting February 2010 and partly by written procedure (18 March days): a. Analysis of conditions for wind power in the Baltic Sea Region b. Transportation and storage solution for CO2 in the Baltic Sea Region 2.2. Approval of project proposal for implementation: c. Energy policy strategies for the post-kyoto period 3. Discussion and decision on the project proposal Study on Energy Efficiency investments for Street and other Public outside Lighting 4. Discussion and decision on the project proposal Revolving Energy Planning Summer School Support to sustainable energy planning in municipalities based on twinning cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region 5. Flagship project to be included in the Action Plan of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region 6. General Tendering procedures for the approved projects 7. Priorities of Norway s BASREC presidency 8. Any other business (e. g. forthcoming events) 1

2 1. Adoption of the Agenda and approval of the protocol of the February GSEO meeting The chairman of the BASREC GSEO meeting, Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, welcomed GSEO members and other participants to the BASREC GSEO meeting in Vilnius. The agenda of the BASREC GSEO meeting as well as the minutes of the February GSEO meeting were approved unanimously by all GSEO members, present in the meeting. 2. Approval of the project proposals: 2.1. For the minutes Project proposals for implementation accepted by the GSEO partly at the GSEO meeting 25/26 February 2010 and partly by written procedure (18 March days): a. Analysis of conditions for wind power in the Baltic Sea Region b. Transportation and storage solution for CO2 in the Baltic Sea Region 2.2. Approval of project proposal for implementation: c. Energy policy strategies for the post-kyoto period It was decided to include in the minutes that the project proposals Analysis of conditions for wind power in the Baltic Sea Region and Transportation and storage solution for CO2 in the Baltic Sea Region were adopted unanimously at the BASREC GSEO meeting in February and by a written procedure within 2 weeks after the minutes of the February were sent out to all BASREC GSEO members. Niels Anger gave a presentation on Germany s project proposal Energy policy strategies for the post-kyoto period. In his presentation, he stressed that the main goals of this project are to formulate alternative energy policies for the post-kyoto period in the region, to make BASREC more visible and to position as well as present BASREC as a frontrunner in the post-kyoto policies in the region and throughout Europe. In addition, this project could create a framework within which other projects could be adopted and implemented. This project aims at integrating and balancing climate policy and security of supply. Latvian representative Gatis Ābele pointed out that he does not have the mandate yet to decide on behalf of Latvia, so he will present this project in Latvia and inform BASREC GSEO about Latvia s decision. Preliminary Latvian position towards this project is positive. It was stated that Russia and Poland also has to inform BASREC GSEO members of its position regarding this project. 2

3 Accordingly, it was decided to give 14 days, after the minutes are sent out to all BASREC GSEO members, to approve this project by written procedure. Niels Anger stressed that suggestions on the contractors who could implement this project are very welcome, because this project should be the fast-moving project. It was also decided that Germany will be the lead country of the project activity. It was also stated that the timeframe for implementation of the project can be decided upon, once the contractor is chosen. 3. Discussion and decision on the project proposal Study on Energy Efficiency investments for Street and other Public outside Lighting Vivi Yieng Kow pointed out that technology already exists that makes it possible to substantially increase the efficiency of street lighting without changing the whole street light (it suffices only to replace the lamp). Accordingly, the project should be more concrete and should elaborate the particular model for the implementation of the street lighting projects. In addition, Nordic Investment Bank had previously declared to finance 50 percent of the costs of the project. However, this is not the case any more in the new version of the project. So the project proposal has to be changed in essence and include a practical model increasing energy efficiency in street lighting. Denmark will oppose to this project, if NIB is not going to pay 50 percent of the costs of the project. Also the budget should be more specified in the project proposal. It was decided to give 14 days time for NIB to modify the project proposal according to these remarks. 4. Discussion and decision on the project proposal Revolving Energy Planning Summer School Support to sustainable energy planning in municipalities based on twinning cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region Arne Grove from Nordic Council of Ministers Information Office in Kaliningrad gave a presentation of the project proposal Revolving Energy Planning Summer School Support to sustainable energy planning in municipalities based on twinning cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region. One of the main objectives of the revolving BASREC summer school is to strengthen the energy knowledge and collaboration in the Baltic Sea Region through exchange of 3

4 knowledge and expertise, joint activities and concrete projects on energy efficiency and renewable energy. An integral part of the summer school concept is a manual on both technical and process aspects of energy planning to be elaborated during the first Summer School. The Summer School would also include twinning of municipalities. The summer school is proposed to be for 8 days. Around participants are going to be invited to participate in the Summer School. This year, the Summer School will take place in Kaliningrad in autumn, next year the Summer School could be organized in Lithuania. Arne Grove also stressed that management of the project should be within the Nordic Council of Ministers. Vivi Yieng Kow stressed that the overall budget of the project is too large. Since the Summer School in Lithuania could be partly based on the manual and other outcomes of the Summer School in Kaliningrad, the budget should be narrowed. Arne Grove promised to send a new budget proposal for the project. Žygimantas Vaičiūnas asked, how the manual can be used, if Kaliningrad has to deliver information on energy efficiency in the preparation of Energy efficiency action plans to Russian authorities before 1 st of August 2010? Arne Grove explained that this exchange of information will continue after 1 st of August too, and that it is possible to change Energy efficiency action plans later as well. Having in mind that Summer School will be rotating and after Kaliningrad it could be organized not only in Lithuania, but also in Latvia and Estonia, Latvian representative Gatis Ābele and Estonian representative Ando Möldre said that they agree on the project proposal and that they are happy that, by means of this project, more interaction with Kaliningrad could be reached. Arne Grove promised to modify the project proposal also evaluating the possibilities for bigger budget share from NCM side within 14 days after the minutes are sent out. Accordingly the the specification on financing of the project proposal beside the financing from the BASREC side will be ensured in order to reduce financial burden for the BASREC. 4

5 5. Flagship project to be included in the Action Plan of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Žygimantas Vaičiūnas presented the flagship project from the Action Plan of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Monitor the implementation of the BEMIP correspondingly with the actions of the High Level Group of the BEMIP. Lead country of this project is Lithuania. And the problem is that this project coincides with the monitoring done by the European Commission for the BEMIP High Level Group. So implementing this flagship project would mean duplicating the work of the European Commission and the BEMIP High Level Group. Žygimantas Vaičiūnas asked, first of all, Monika Eordoghne-Zsigri from the European Commission, what is Commission s position on this and if flagship projects could be changed? Monika Eordoghne-Zsigri replied by saying that new projects can be tabled any time to the coordinators of the 10 th priority area Latvia and Denmark. Latvia and Denmark considers the tabled projects in light of the aims of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. The Steering Group in the framework of BEMIP High Level Group was created and it will coordinate the proposals on the new flagships from BEMIP side. Accordingly, the new flagships could be introduced in the Action Plan of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region if Latvia and Denmark as the coordinators from this strategy and BEMIP High Level Group Steering Group agrees. The Steering Group also will report to the BEMIP High Level Group on the developments of EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. 6. General Tendering procedures for the approved projects Ole-Jacob Edna from Norway noted that in the CBSS CSO procedure for adopting projects there is not a single word about procedures which could be useful for the BASREC projects. Moreover, Section D7. of the Guidelines for CBSS participation in projects stipulates that the CBSS should not become a project implementation office. In conclusion, Danish tendering procedures and rules should be used. Vivi Yieng Kow agreed on this proposal to use Danish tendering procedures and rules. She noted that Danish tendering rules are in Danish, but she could prepare a summary in English and forward to BASREC GSEO members. She promised to do it within 14 days after the minutes are sent out. 5

6 Swedish representative Josephine Bahr Ljungdell presented Sweden s position, according to which tendering procedures and rules should not come in conflict with tendering rules of BASREC member countries. In response, it was stressed that tendering rules of EU BASREC member countries are already in line with EU s tendering rules. So only the tendering rules of BASREC member countries, not belonging to the EU, have to be looked into. Attention was also paid to a possible confusion between the organizer of project activity and the lead country. BASREC Executive Committee will be the organizer of project activities, and the lead country will be a separate country, for example, Germany in the case of the project on Energy policy strategies for the post-kyoto period. With regard to the Minutes of the February BASREC GSEO meeting, it was decided to change the status of the Swedish Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications from the organizer of the project activity to Sweden as the lead country for the project Analysis of conditions for wind power in the Baltic Sea region. With regard to the Minutes of the February BASREC GSEO meeting, it was decided to change the status of the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy from the organizer of the project activity to Norway as the lead country for the project Transportation and storage solution for CO2 in the Baltic Sea Region. The question was also raised, who decides on the contractor. In response, it was made clear that the BASREC Executive Committee chooses a candidate and presents it to BASREC GSEO members, who approve or disapprove. In the case of the project on Energy policy strategies for the post-kyoto period, the Executive Committee is asking BASREC GSEO members to give the Executive Committee the right to decide on the contractor since the implementation of this project needs to be launched very soon. Correspondingly, the right will be given if all BASREC member countries approve the minutes. 6

7 7. Priorities of Norway s BASREC presidency Ole-Jacob Edna stressed that one of the main background elements for Norway s BASREC Presidency will be the Ministerial Communique of February He stressed that under Norwegian presidency BASREC will continue with the development of the projects, including the ones on the BASREC Summer School, Carbon Capture and Storage. Norway is also interested in the project proposal from Russia on energy efficiency. Much attention will be paid to the follow-up to COP15 too. Also, preparations will be started for the next ministerial meeting, which will take place in spring/summer 2012 in Berlin. Norway is committed to the extensive use of Executive Committee, which already proved to be very efficient workingformat. Norway informed that the next BASREC GSEO meeting will be held in Helsinki on the 2 nd of September, while on the 1 st of September back-to-back meeting with the Baltic Gas will be organized. Accordingly Norway asked GSEO members to save this date. 8. Any other business Sweden asked BASREC countries for the participation in the implementation of the approved project Analysis of conditions for wind power in the Baltic Sea Region. Concerning the fact, that Sweden is a lead country of this project it was decided that more details of the organisation issues could be discussed with the Executive Committee. On behalf of the outgoing Lithuanian BASREC presidency, Žygimantas Vaičiūnas thanked BASREC GSEO members for good cooperation and support and wished all the best to Norway, who is taking over the BASREC presidency. 7