The United States Energy Association’s “International Partner of the Year Award” recognizes leading contributors to USEA’s mission to increase energy security across Europe and Eurasia and accelerate the region’s clean energy transition.

In recognition of our joint efforts to integrate Southeast Europe electricity networks and markets with Europe, Hellenic Energy Exchange (HEnEx) has been selected to receive the USEA International Partner of the Year Award for 2025. HEnEx has helped Greece establish itself as an energy leader in the region.

Beginning in 2023, USEA and HEnEx collaborated on a federally-funded project to accelerate electricity market connectivity between Western Balkan and European Union countries. That integration—which is still underway—is happening through a process called “market coupling,” which optimizes regional transmission network activity by reducing the complexity and cost of cross-border electricity trade. Ultimately, market coupling attracts investment because it provides price transparency.

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Christoforos Zoumas, Chief Operations Officer of EnExGroup, accepts the USEA 2025 International Partner of the Year Award on May 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Pictured here, from left: Mark Menezes, President and CEO of USEA; Mr. Zoumas; William Polen, Senior Director of USEA.

Market coupling also advances the clean energy transition. Currently, the Southeast Europe region’s energy markets are small, reliant on aging fossil fuel-based power plants, and reliant on a limited number of energy suppliers. For countries of the Western Balkans, in particular, expanding electricity market integration with neighbors and with the European Union will improve access to shared resources and optimize investments in new generation and grid improvements.

HEnEx’s expertise was particularly valuable to the project’s non-EU participants—Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. To be successful at market coupling, these countries must first align with EU energy policies. USEA and HEnEx supported each country’s transmission system operators, market operators, and national regulatory authorities in restructuring their internal operations and protocols in accordance with EU market rules and principles, while simultaneously developing legal agreements with EU counterparts.

“I’m honored to accept this award on behalf of HEnEx, representing how Greece, the United States, and other countries are working together to deliver regional energy integration and cooperation,” said Christoforos Zoumas, Chief Operations Officer of EnExGroup, which owns HEnEx. 

The International Partner of the Year Award was presented during the USEA Annual Membership Meeting and Public Policy Forum, May 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C.