Budget at a glance

Articles 73 - 75 of the Treaty lay down the contributions, roles and responsibilities behind the Energy Community budget. The process of adoption of the biannual budget is defined in Procedural Act 2006/03/MC-EnC on procedures for the establishment and implementation of budget, auditing and inspection and by its amending acts. The Energy Community budget is adopted biannually by the Ministerial Council based on a proposal of the European Commission. In the upcoming biennium, budget contributions by the Parties shall amount to EUR 6.60 Mio in 2024 and to EUR 6.73 Mio in 2025, forming the core budget of the organization.

Additional sources of funding for 2024–2025 include grants from multiple donors, such as the EU4Energy Governance project funded by the European Union, and a contribution from the Government of Austria toward the rental costs of the Secretariat’s premises in Vienna.

The director of the Energy Community Secretariat has the sole responsibility on the implementation of the budget in accordance with the principle of sound financial management. The Budget Committee supervises and advises the director in the financial management of the operations of the Energy Community.

Budget

Core Budget

Extraordinary Budget

In addition to the core budget contributions of the Contracting Parties, the Energy Community also receives funding from other sources, including international donors and the European Union, represented by the European Commission. These contributions are provided through separate budgetary procedures or dedicated grant agreements. The amount of such funding varies from year to year and is recorded pro memoria at the close of each financial year.

Depending on the specific project or agreement, the beneficiary of this funding may be the Secretariat, all Contracting Parties collectively, or a single Contracting Party. Some of these contributions are linked to specific projects with defined durations, while others represent continuous or recurring annual support. This distinction affects the planning, implementation, and reporting obligations associated with each funding stream.

2020 - 2024 Extraordinary Budget

source: compiled by the Energy Community Secretariat

Statement of revenue	Statement of expenditure
Description	2024	2025	Description	2024	2025
Parties' budget contributions	6.602.731	6.734.786	Human resources	4.191.910	4.275.748
Donors	p.m*	p.m*	Travel	225.000	229.500
Other sources	p.m*	p.m*	Office	505.000	515.100
			Other services	1.680.821	1.714.437
Total revenue	6.602.731	6.734.786	Total expenditure	6.602.731	6.734.786
* As the amount of 'other sources' varies from year to year, it is established ‘pro memoria’ (p.m) at the end of each financial year.

Contributions

Parties	2024 - 2025 contributions
European Union	94,78%
Albania	0,09%
Bosnia and Herzegovina	0,20%
Georgia	0,11%
Kosovo*	0,07%
Moldova	0,10%
Montenegro	0,05%
North Macedonia	0,10%
Serbia	0,56%
Ukraine	3,94%
TOTAL	100%

GRANTS & DONATIONS

EU4Energy Phase II+
Donor:	European Commission
Amount:	EUR 4.682.650
Duration:	2021 - 2026
Beneficiaries:	Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia
Purpose:
The EU4Energy Phase II+ programme, funded by the European Commission, supports the clean energy transition in Eastern Partnership countries by advancing the alignment of national energy legislation with EU standards, strengthening energy security, and fostering sustainable investment. It focuses on legislative and regulatory reform, capacity building for national energy authorities, regional energy market integration, and improving the quality and availability of energy data to support informed policymaking. Through targeted workshops, technical assistance, and cross-border cooperation, the programme helps remove barriers to renewable energy development, enhance energy efficiency, and accelerate the creation of a more integrated, resilient, and EU-aligned regional energy market. This builds on similar support provided during Phase I of the programme between 2016 and 2020.

The Moldova Energy Independence and Resilience (MEIR) project
Donor:	European Commission
Amount:	EUR 3.000.000
Duration:	1 March 2025 – 31 May 2028
Beneficiaries:	Moldova
Purpose:
This EU grant, provided by the European Commission and implemented in partnership with the Energy Community Secretariat, aims to improve Moldova’s legislative and regulatory framework for the energy sector in line with EU and Energy Community Treaty obligations. It supports key government authorities and public institutions—including ministries, the energy regulator, statistical office, and agencies for energy efficiency and decarbonisation—to strengthen institutional capacity, enhance energy security, and advance Moldova’s EU integration efforts.

Donation of the Government of Austria
Donor:	Austria
Amount:	EUR 170.000 p.a.
Duration:	2006 - 2026
Beneficiaries:	Secretariat
Purpose:
This contribution stems from the commitment made by the Government of Austria in July 2004 to host the seat of the Energy Community in Vienna and to provide financial support until the end of 2026. Under this arrangement, Austria contributes EUR 170,000 annually, earmarked exclusively for the rental of the Secretariat’s premises. The next payment is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Grant contract with European Climate Foundation
Donor:	Austria
Amount:	EUR 110.000
Duration:	March 2025 - December 2025
Beneficiaries:	Ukraine
Purpose:
In partnership with the European Climate Foundation, the Secretariat is implementing a project from March to December 2025 to develop Cross-Border Renewable Energy Acceleration Areas (REAAs) in five key Ukrainian oblasts. The initiative supports Ukraine’s green recovery, energy transition, and integration into the EU energy market by establishing a framework for REAAs that align with EU standards and foster cross-border renewable energy cooperation.

Grant contract with Guidehouse Germany
Donor:	Guidehouse Germany
Amount:	EUR 57.720
Duration:	20 February 2025 - 31 July 2026
Beneficiaries:	Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia
Purpose:
The Green Transition Capacity Building and Advisory Project in the Western Balkans project aims to strengthen awareness and understanding of obligations under the Energy Community Treaty, with a particular focus on MRVA—Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification of greenhouse gas emissions and related actions. These obligations primarily apply to individual undertakings and require effective compliance mechanisms. The initiative also seeks to foster closer collaboration between institutional and private stakeholders and sheds light on the stakeholders' legal responsibilities.

Grant contract with Visegrad Fund (Summer School 2025)
Donor:	Visegrad Fund (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia)
Amount:	EUR 32.000
Duration:	2016 - 2025
Beneficiaries:	Secretariat
Purpose:
The grant supports the continued implementation of the Energy Community Summer School, with the aim of promoting regional cooperation, interdisciplinary learning, and capacity building in the energy sector. Through this initiative, young professionals, researchers, and policymakers come together to explore key energy topics within the framework of the Energy Community. The Visegrad Fund has been a dedicated partner of the Secretariat since 2016, providing financial support to every edition of the Summer School. A new 2025 grant agreement is currently being prepared, with upcoming activities to be carried out in collaboration with the Faculty of Maritime Studies at the University of Podgorica, Montenegro.

Grant contract with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Donor:	Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Amount:	EUR 54.300
Duration:	June – October 2024
Beneficiaries:	all Contracting Parties
Purpose:
The grant agreement with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) aims to support activities under the Just Transition Forum and the Joint Energy Efficiency and Energy Poverty Coordination Group Meetings. The project’s goal is to facilitate dialogue on just transition issues by bringing together diverse stakeholders. It will include a core event, the Just Transition Forum, as well as related training sessions and meetings focused on energy efficiency and energy poverty.

Director
- Budget implementation
  
  Pursuant to Article 75 of the Treaty, the director of the Energy Community Secretariat is responsible for the implementation of the budget. In this role, the director is supervised and advised by the Energy Community Budget Committee.
  
  Article 75 of the Treaty tasks the director to report annually to the Ministerial Council on the execution of the budget. Article 38 of Procedural Act 2014/01/MC-EnC stipulates further the obligation of the annual activity report by the director.
  
  The purpose of the director’s report is to present a synthesis of the budgetary and financial management, as required by the above mentioned legal framework, of appropriations for the period ending 31 December.
  
  Below find the last report submitted to the 2024 Ministerial Council.
  
  Report of the Director of the Energy Community Secretariat under Article 75 of the Treaty for the financial year 2024
- Annual audit
  
  Each year, the accountant establishes the accounts of the previous year no later than 31 March. These accounts are validated by the director. It is the director's duty, subject to approval by the Budget Committee, to designate an independent external auditor to carry out the annual audit of the Energy Community.
  
  The external auditors submit an audit report and certified accounts, together with a statement of assurance relating to the reliability of the accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions, to the Budget Committee. The external auditor gives its opinion both in a public report (published on this website) and directly to the Budget Committee of the Energy Community, therefore to the representatives of the Parties to the Treaty.
  
  Forvis Mazars Audit Report on the Financial Statements as at 31 December 2023
- Discharge
  Every year the Ministerial Council examines the Energy Community’s certified accounts and financial statements, the report of the external auditors, for the purpose of granting discharge of the director from his/her management and administrative responsibility. In parallel, it takes account of potential observations by the Budget Committee. This procedure ensures full accountability and transparency and when granted, this discharge leads to formal closure of the accounts for the given year.
  
  The basis for the discharge decision is an integrated financial package comprising:
  
  annual accounts of the Energy Community;
  
  external auditors' Report on the Audit of the Financial Statements;
  
  Energy Community Budget Committee's Report on Audit.
  
  In its report, the Budget Committee is to note any disagreements with the director in the process of his/her financial management and state if it recommends to discharge the director. On this basis, the Ministerial Council grants discharge to the director from his management and financial responsibility.
  
  Decision 2024/02/MC-EnC on the discharge of the director for year 2023
Budget Committee
- Tasks
  Established by Article 22 of Procedural Act 2006/03/MC-EnC and later amended in 2014 and 2022, the Budget Committee supervises and advises the Director on financial management, reporting to the Ministerial Council in case of disagreement.
  
  Below are the consolidated rules detailing budget procedures and the Committee’s responsibilities.
  
  Consolidated Budget Auditing and Inspection Rules (consolidated version 02/2024)
  
  Supervision and advisory role
  
  It is the task of the Budget Committee to supervise and to advise the director in the financial management of the operations of the Energy Community:
  
  The director shall inform regularly the Budget Committee on all matters relating to budgetary and financial management. The Budget Committee is empowered to obtain any necessary information or explanations regarding budgetary matters.
  
  The Budget Committee is to consulted timely before adoption of any internal rules and/or procedural acts having an impact on budgetary and financial management. It may propose modifications to the proposed rules.
  
  The Budget Committee also approves the Terms of Reference for the designation of an independent external auditor.
  
  Reporting obligation
  
  Article 81(5) equips the Budget Committee with a reporting obligation. In its report to the Ministerial Council, the Budget Committee is to assess
  
  the audit of the Energy Community’s annual accounts, and,
  
  the director’s financial management of the Energy Community budget.
  
  In case of disagreement with the director, the Budget Committee is to report to the Ministerial Council.
  
  Below find the Budget Committee's latest report submitted to the ministers in December 2024.
  
  Budget Committee Report on Audit 2023 (Art. 81(5)) of the Budgetary Procedures and of the Internal Rules of Procedures of the Budget Committee under item III.2.c)
- Composition
  
  Pursuant to Article 23 of Procedural Act 2014/01/MC-EnC, the Budget Committee of the Energy Community consists of one member from each of the Contracting Parties and two members of the European Union, represented by the European Commission.
  
  The European Union and each Contracting Party nominate their representatives. The term of office of the Budget Committee is two years. Meetings of the Budget Committee are chaired by the European Commission. The Chairperson may appoint a Co-chair.
  
  The Energy Community Secretariat takes part to the Budget Committee meetings without voting rights.
- Rules on procedure
  As all institutional bodies of the Energy Community, the Budget Committee is to adopt its internal rules of procedure. These rules were adopted in January 2008, and revised in December 2014. The most recent revision of the Budget Committee's rules of procedure occurred in November 2024.
  
  Meetings
  
  According to Procedural Act 2022/02/MC-EnC, the Budget Committee is to hold at least two ordinary meetings a year. It can also convene for an extraordinary meeting at the instance of the Chairperson or at the request of at least one third of its members. The Budget Committee may also meet upon proposal by the Director.
  
  The Secretariat prepares and assists in the preparation of Budget Committee meetings.
  
  Voting
  
  Any decision by the Budget Committee is to be taken by vote or by written procedure.
  
  Budget Committee acts by simple majority of the votes including a positive vote of the European Commission.
  
  In case of an equal number of votes, the European Commission shall have the deciding vote.
  
  Budget Committee internal rules of procedure

Budget at a glance

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

USEFUL LINKS

2020 - 2024 Extraordinary Budget

Supervision and advisory role

Reporting obligation

Meetings

Voting