Poland has become a new member country of the International Energy Agency (IEA). The government in Warsaw completed all necessary steps under its national legislation to accede to the IEA founding document, the Agreement on an International Energy Program (I.E.P. Agreement). With the membership of Poland, the IEA now has 28 member countries.
“We warmly welcome the Polish accession”, said IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka. ”The country has worked hard to rapidly restructure the country’s energy policies and programme, and to transform its energy sector into a market-oriented one that is based on the principles reflected in the IEA Shared Goals.” Poland – an EU member country since 2004 – is the largest economy, energy consumer and energy producer in Central Europe, and plays an important role in the transit of hydrocarbons to Europe and in energy co-operation in the region. “Not least with a view to its geographic position, its membership will greatly enhance the Agency’s presence and energy security in Central and Eastern Europe.”
In order to meet a central requirement of full membership in the Agency, Poland has established emergency oil stocks (public- and industry-held) and now holds more than enough oil to cover the 90 days of net imports required under the minimum IEA stockholding obligation.
The IEA – an independent organisation of oil-consuming nations which is autonomous within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – was founded during the oil crisis of 1973-74. Its initial core mission was to respond swiftly and effectively to future oil emergencies and to reduce the oil dependence of the consuming countries. With the evolution of the energy markets, the scope of IEA mandate has broadened. Current work focuses on energy efficiency, climate protection, energy technology collaboration and outreach to the rest of the world, especially major consumers and producers of energy such as China, India, Russia and the OPEC countries. The IEA conducts a broad programme of energy research, data compilation, publications and public dissemination of the latest energy policy analysis.