This policy brief focuses on cross-border auctions and joint projects as the key instruments for the Contracting Parties of the Energy Community to cooperate between each other and with EU Member States. The legal framework of the European Union includes different mechanisms for cooperation between EU Member States, between Member States and third countries (such as the Contracting Parties of the Energy Community) and between the Contracting Parties.

Cross-border auctions and joint projects are considered to be one of the key instruments for the Contracting Parties to cost-effectively increase the share of renewables in their energy mix by cooperating between each other and with EU Member States.