Sec. 4. Prioritization of efforts and assistance for energy infrastructure projects in Central and Eastern Europe
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In pursuing the policy described in section 3, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of United States agencies that operate under the policy guidance of the Secretary, shall, as appropriate, prioritize and expedite the efforts of the Department of State and those agencies in supporting the efforts of the European Commission and the governments of Central and Eastern European countries to increase their energy security, including through— providing diplomatic and political support to the European Commission and those governments, as necessary— to facilitate international negotiations concerning cross-border infrastructure; to enhance Europe’s regulatory environment with respect to energy; and to develop accessible, transparent, and competitive energy markets supplied by diverse sources, types, and routes of energy; and providing support to improve European energy markets, including early-stage project support and late-stage project support for the construction or improvement of energy infrastructure, as necessary— to diversify the energy sources and supply routes of Central and Eastern European countries; to enhance energy market integration across the region; and to increase competition within energy markets.
The agencies described in subsection
(a)shall identify energy infrastructure projects that would be appropriate for United States assistance under this section. A project is eligible for United States assistance under this section if the project is— related to— natural gas infrastructure, such as interconnectors, storage facilities, liquefied natural gas import facilities, or reverse flow capacity; electricity transmission infrastructure, electricity storage projects, or smart grid projects; renewable energy projects in wind, solar, tidal, or other forms; or the improvement, rehabilitation, or construction of natural gas, coal, or other electricity generation facilities to increase the efficiency and reliability of electricity production; and located in a Central or Eastern European country. In selecting among projects that are eligible under paragraph (2), the agencies described in subsection
(a)shall give preference to projects that— link the energy systems of two or more Central and Eastern European countries; have already been identified by the European Commission as being integral for the energy security of Central and Eastern European countries; are expected to enhance energy market integration; can attract funding from the private sector, an international financial institution, the government of the country in which the project will be carried out, or the European Commission; or have the potential to use United States goods and services during project implementation. The Secretary of State shall provide diplomatic and political support to the European Commission and the governments of Central and Eastern European countries, as necessary, including by using the diplomatic and political influence and expertise of the Department of State to build the capacity of those countries to resolve any impediments to the development of projects selected under subsection (b). The Director of the Trade and Development Agency shall provide early-stage project support with respect to projects selected under subsection (b), as necessary. Agencies described in subsection
(a)that provide late-stage project support shall do so with respect to projects selected under subsection (b), as necessary. The agencies described in subsection (a)— are authorized to provide financing of not more than $1,000,000,000 to support private sector investment in projects that diversify the energy sources and energy transport capabilities of Central and Eastern European countries and to improve energy market integration in those countries; and shall ensure that amounts from such investments are available for fiscal years 2020 through 2024 for debt financing and insurance for projects under this section. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the Trade and Development Agency for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024— $5,000,000 to provide assistance under this section; and such sums as may be necessary for the Agency to employ additional personnel to provide such assistance. Section 254(b) of the Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017 ( 22 U.S.C. 9543(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: To assist United States agencies in providing assistance under section 4 of the European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019 . .
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Sec. 4
Prioritization of efforts and assistance for energy infrastructure projects in Central and Eastern Europe
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