ANNEX

Terms of Reference

TEN-E Regulation – European Coordinator for Central- and South-East European energy interconnectivity

Introduction

The European Coordinator for Central and South-East European energy interconnectivity (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Coordinator’) is appointed by the European Commission in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2022/869 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure (TEN-E Regulation). The Coordinator will be responsible for facilitating the implementation of projects promoting the interconnectivity and well-functioning of the Central- and South-East European energy markets including projects of common interest (PCI) under the TEN-E Regulation and initiatives falling under the auspices of the Central and South-East European Energy Connectivity High-Level Group (CESEC) (1)chaired by the Commission.

Duration of the Mandate

The Coordinator will be appointed for an initial period of one year, renewable twice, subject to satisfactory performance and the needs of the projects. The European Commission reserves the right to withdraw the appointment of the selected Coordinator, at any moment, in case of inactivity, insufficient or low-quality contribution to the Central- and South-East European energy interconnectivity or when the Coordinator no longer fulfils any of the selection requirements.

Specific Tasks and Corresponding Deadlines

The Coordinator’s mission is to strengthen regional interconnectivity in Central- and South-East Europe, to promote a regulatory framework that ensures market integration, the efficient use of infrastructure and affordability in alignment with the EU acquis and to ensure security of energy supply and diversification in the Central and South-East European region. The Coordinator’s mission is linked to the successful and timely implementation of projects, tasks, actions and investments related to the completion of the projects of common interest under the TEN-E Regulation in Central- and South-East Europe.

The Coordinator will provide the required critical expertise and close follow-up needed for the timely and orderly completion of the projects and tasks in line with the deadlines and the implementation plan of the projects as defined in the CESEC Electricity and Renewable Energy Action Plan and the CESEC Gases Action Plan, including their future development reflecting notably the results of the forthcoming PCI/PMI selection procedure under the TEN-E Regulation.

The Coordinator will closely monitor the implementation as well as the progress on the infrastructure investments and policy actions, provide advice and facilitate any measures that need to be taken by the stakeholders or authorities to overcome potential difficulties which may significantly delay implementation, and report back to the Commission and the Member States on the relevant progress. The Coordinator will work closely with and facilitate cooperation between the Member States concerned, regulatory authorities, project promoters, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the timely and successful implementation of the projects and policy actions related to the mission. The Coordinator will take a proactive approach and contribute actively, alongside the European Commission and the Member States concerned, to the achievement of defined tasks and duties required for the projects including participation in working groups, meetings or workshops. The Coordinator will call and organise such meetings together with the Commission if they consider them necessary for the implementation of their mandate. The Coordinator will take into account the regional cooperation in CESEC and the activities of the High-Level Group, as outlined in the respective political conclusions and action plans. The work of the European Coordinator will be conducted in English.

In particular, the Coordinator will ensure that the Commission can provide the necessary support to the Member States and project promoters concerned by implementing the tasks provided in Article 6 paragraph 2 of the TEN-E Regulation:

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Promotion of PCI projects included on the first PCI/PMI list in CESEC EU Member States, concretely 2.4 electricity Interconnector between Würmlach (AT) – Somplago (IT), PCI 2.5 electricity cluster Hungary – Romania, PCI 2.8 Interconnector between Lienz (AT) – Veneto region (IT), PCI 10.3 Hydrogen interconnector between Greece and Bulgaria, 10.4 Generic corridor aiming to transmit hydrogen from Ukraine to Slovakia, Czechia, Austria and Germany, smart electricity grid PCI 12.2 CARMEN (BG, RO), PCI 12.3 Danube InGrid (HU, SK), PCI 12.5 GreenSwitch (AT, HR, SI) and the cross-border dialogue between the project promoters and all stakeholders concerned. Project coverage may be broadened based on the results of the forthcoming PCI/PMI selection procedures;

—	Assistance to all parties as necessary and requested in their actions of consulting the stakeholders concerned, discussing alternative routing, where appropriate, and obtaining necessary permits for the projects;

—	Where appropriate, advise to project promoters on the financing of the projects;

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Ensuring appropriate support and strategic direction by the Member States concerned – and by the Energy Community Contracting Parties to the extent concerned – for the preparation and implementation of the projects and facilitation of common understanding and information exchange towards acting in agreement and in a cohesive and coherent manner by all entities relevant for the projects;

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Guidance to regional energy network development in Central- and South-East Europe, including support to the timely implementation of projects of mutual interest in the region; complemented by necessary support to energy market integration, security of supply and affordability – in cooperation with all concerned Member States, authorities, market players, Energy Community Contracting Parties and other stakeholders;

—	Promotion of priorities defined in the CESEC Electricity and Renewable Energy Action Plan and the CESEC Action Plan on Gases; and

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Submission every year, and, where appropriate, upon completion of their mandate, a report to the Commission on the CESEC connectivity and on any difficulties and obstacles which are likely to significantly delay the commissioning date of the relevant investments or the achievement of relevant actions. The report will be forwarded to the European Parliament.

The Coordinator will be carrying out all necessary missions to the relevant sites linked to the implementation of the project or where meetings related to the project are held.

The coordination effort shall be proportionate to the complexity and estimated costs of the projects.

Methodology to be Followed

The Coordinator will work in close cooperation with the Commission, particularly the Directorate-General for Energy, the CESEC High-Level Group, Member States and where relevant, the Energy Community Secretariat and the Energy Community Contracting Parties concerned, project promoters, regulatory authorities and other relevant stakeholders.

Allowance and Reimbursement

The Coordinator will be granted a monthly flat-rate amount of EUR 3 000 to cover the costs related to secretarial assistance where it is not directly provided by the Commission services (communication, miscellaneous office furniture, office space, secretariat), and travel-mission representational related expenses in accordance with the Commission rules. The annual mission budget is EUR 15 000. Detailed rules on reimbursement for missions will be recalled in a separate document (‘Vademecum’).

Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest

The Coordinator shall not use or divulge any document or information which comes to their knowledge in the course of their duties, unless such information is already in the public domain. The Coordinator shall also avoid any situation giving rise to a conflict of interest regarding the areas in which they are requested to intervene.

Acceptance of the Terms of Reference

By accepting this mandate, the Coordinator acknowledges that they have read, understood, and accepted the terms of reference and the conditions set out in this document.

Vademecum on specific working rules for the European coordinator

I.   Organisation of missions

This document describes the procedure to be followed for all missions carried out in the context of the European Coordinator (hereinafter Coordinator) activities.

Coordinator’s contact point in the Commission will be DG ENER Unit C4 (Infrastructure and Regional Cooperation). Its staff will assist with the organisation of the missions and, when necessary, accompany the Coordinator.

1.   PREPARATION OF THE MISSION

1.1.   Mission order

Missions of the Coordinator must be encoded in the corporate tool MIPS+ (Missions integrated processing system) and should follow the general rules set in the Annex ‘Guide to missions and authorised travel’ accompanying the Commission Decision on the general provisions for implementing Articles 11, 12 and 13 of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations of Officials (mission expenses) and on authorised travel.

Missions are considered valid only if approved by the Director of DG ENER C (authorising officer). The mission request should include the date and timing of the mission, the destination and the purpose.

1.2.   Booking of transportation means

On the basis of the approved mission order, travel means can be booked via the official travel agency with the help of DG ENER Unit C4 or by the Coordinator personally. In the latter case the Coordinator will share the tickets and receipts with a clearly indicated price with DG ENER Unit C4. DG ENER C4 will encode the travel arrangements in MIPS+.

—	The Coordinator is allowed to request flexible tickets if there is an appreciable risk that the mission will be cancelled or amended.

1.3.   Reimbursement of hotel expenses

The Coordinator may choose the accommodation, taking into account the ceilings for the reimbursement of accommodation expenses. Accommodation costs will be reimbursed, on presentation of the invoice, up to the ceiling for the place of the mission or, if authorisation to exceed the ceiling has been granted by the authorising officer, the full amount of the invoice will be reimbursed.

The cost of extra nights in case of travel combined with holidays will not be covered.

1.4.   Taxi expenses

Transfers by taxi may be authorised by the authorising officer if public transport is not an appropriate alternative. The costs will be reimbursed on presentation of supporting documents.

Taxi trips should take place within the timing indicated in the mission order.

1.5.   Conflict of interests

—	Any situation giving rise to a conflict of interest regarding the areas in which the Coordinator is requested to intervene shall be avoided. The Coordinator shall inform the Commission of any conflict of interest arising during the term of office immediately.

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Furthermore, the Coordinator shall not use or disclose any document or information which comes to their knowledge in the course of the duties, unless such information is already in the public domain. All the results produced by the Coordinator shall be the property of the Union, which may use them or publish them as it sees fit.

—	Missions cannot be paid by the organisers of an event. This applies also to missions offered by Member States. Travel/mission arrangements will be covered by the European Commission.

—	To make best use of the mission budget, if possible, meetings or visits should be grouped to reduce their number, targeted and optimised.

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Greener modes of transport should be prioritised for the missions. Any offer of gifts in connection with the performance of the Coordinator’s duties should be declined unless it is of symbolic value and not exceeding EUR 50. The Coordinator shall be bound by the Commission guide to missions as reference in the Commission decision for their appointment.

2.   AFTER THE MISSION

2.1.   Mission report

The Coordinator must provide a mission report. If the Coordinator is accompanied by a representative of DG ENER Unit C4, the Coordinator is allowed to draw on support from the Representative for providing the report. The mission report will be transmitted to the Director of DG ENER C for information and attached to the reimbursement request of expenses. These documents may at a certain stage be requested by the European Parliament or the European Court of Auditors to assess the justification of the expenses.

Date:

Name, surname:

Signature:

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(1)  The CESEC High-Level Group was established in 2015 and has 17 members composed of 9 EU Member States (Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia) and 8 Energy Community Contracting Parties (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine).

* in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.