EWRC Chairman announced his support for reviving the activity of the Balkan Advisory Forum as a platform for cooperation between regulators in the region
The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) and the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAAEY) of the Hellenic Republic signed a Cooperation Agreement in the field of regulation of water and sanitation services. At an official ceremony in Thessaloniki, Greece, the document was signed by EWRC Chairman Plamen Mladenovski and the Acting President of RAAEY Dimitrios Foularis. The Bulgarian delegation for the two-day official visit to Greece also included the EWRC members in the Water and Sewerage Services, Alexandra Bogoslovska and Dimitar Kochkov, as well as Dr. Ivaylo Kastchiev, Director of the General Directorate of Water and Sewerage Services.
The agreement between EWRC and RAAEY creates a contractual framework for bilateral cooperation in the regulation of the water and sanitation sector, after RAAEY have been regulating both water and sanitation services and urban waste management since 2023. So far, the two regulators have been actively in contact within international organizations, primarily the European Network of Water Regulators (WAREG). The signed Agreement provides for EWRC and RAAEY to hold working meetings and workshops on agreed beforehand topics. They will exchange information on regulatory policies and processes in the water sector, share knowledge and experience on current regulatory issues, and discuss solutions to common problems.
The Agreement on cooperation in the water sector builds on the established close bilateral cooperation between the national regulatory authorities of Bulgaria and Greece. In the energy sector, a trilateral Cooperation Agreement between EWRC, RAAEY and the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) of the Republic of Romania has been in effect since 2017, which contributes to the harmonization of the regulatory framework in the region. In addition to RAAEY and ANRE, EWRC also implements cooperation agreements with the regulators of Turkey, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Albania, Georgia and Scotland.
„Through the signed cooperation agreement, EWRC and RAAEY create the legal framework for cooperation, aiming to improve the quality of the regulatory process. The document plays an important role in harmonizing regulatory practices and contributes to the implementation of our common goals of improving the quality of water and sanitation services and achieving favorable prices, which is in the interest of consumers“, emphasized EWRC Chairman Plamen Mladenovski after the signing ceremony. It was noticed that the Bulgarian energy and water regulator recognizes the importance of the signed document as part of the process of activating cooperation between regulators in the region.
“We have problems to solve in both the energy and water sectors. These problems are similar in their nature and it is in our common interest to join our efforts for a fruitful and operational exchange of experience and good practices. Guided by this conviction, in my management program, with which I was elected to the position of EWRC Chair, one of the leading accents is clear support for the development of regional cooperation“, the head of the Bulgarian regulator said.
The two delegations dicussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest in the field of regulatory activity.
