Cyprus' Energy, Commerce and Industry, Minister, Giorgos Papanastasiou, stressed the importance of developing a legal framework for electricity at the EU level, including measures to empower distribution system operators, speaking during the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council of the EU, held on Monday in Brussels, with the participation of Energy Ministers.

According to a press release released, during the discussion on the future of energy policy in the framework of the development of an Energy Union, Papanastasiou highlighted the need to create market stability and implement the FitFor55 legislative framework.

He added that priority needs to be given to the legal framework for electricity, such as measures related to the empowerment of distribution system operators. He noted that need for conducting training programmes for the staff of the operators on the digitalisation and modernisation of electricity systems.

During a working lunch, the Ministers exchanged views on developments in the electricity market with the participation of the Director of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators of the EU (ACER), Christian Zinglersen.

In his intervention, Papanastasiou referred to the changes required by the Distribution System Operators and the need to build new electricity interconnections between member states. In addition, he updated his counterparts on the progress on the gas import project in Vasilikos.

During the Council, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, presented the Agency's report on the future of geothermal energy in the global energy mix and adopted conclusions on the promotion of geothermal energy.

Dr. Birol also briefed on technological developments in the field, the utilization of geothermal energy beyond the heating and cooling sector, and presented actions to encourage the utilization of geothermal energy.

During his intervention, Papanastasiou noted that the exploitation of geothermal energy can contribute to the achievement of the Union's objectives for the penetration of renewable energy technologies in its energy mix.

In the margins of the Council,  Papanastasiou participated in a working breakfast with the group "Friends of Renewable Energy Sources", which was also attended by the Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jorgensen, with whom issues related to the energy priorities of the Republic of Cyprus were discussed.

Finally, the Minister of Energy met with an official of the International Energy Agency and discussed issues concerning the cooperation of the Republic of Cyprus with the Agency.