EU Works to Develop Renewable Energy Cooperation with Mediterranean, Gulf Countries

October 12, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS

The Oct. 9 conference aims to forge increased political support for closer cooperation in this field and work to find concrete solutions to the challenges ahead.

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The conference will provide a platform for presenting EU initiatives in renewable energy, including the Renewable Energy Directive, and the growing potential for renewable energy exports to the EU.

The conference also aims to foster understanding among partners of the potential contribution of the EU to the development of renewable energy potential in the Mediterranean and Gulf regions, building on experience in the EU of promoting, developing and deploying renewable energy sources.

In four sessions, the conference will address:

• The role of energy in the EU's relations with the partners from the Mediterranean and the Gulf regions.
• The development of a regional "green energy" market, including the policy, legislative and regulatory issues.
• The research and technology aspects of renewable energy and the opportunities for cooperation between the stakeholders from the EU, the Mediterranean and Gulf regions.
• The possible joint initiatives and projects to support the development of renewable energies and, in particular, solar energy.

"Renewable energy cannot provide all the answers to our climate change and energy security challenges - but it will be an indispensable element in any successful strategy. Therefore, we need a renewable energy partnership with the countries of the Mediterranean and the Gulf regions," said Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EC commissioner for external relations and European neighborhood policy.

"These partners have enormous potential to produce renewables, while the EU has a lot of technological know-how and expertise to contribute. I hope this conference will take us a step closer to realizing a fully-fledged green energy market, and help us to explore together the potential for joint efforts to launch new technologies, particularly in the field of solar power," Ferrero-Waldner added.

EC Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said, "The vast solar energy potential in north Africa and the European know-how in the field of renewable technologies opens a window of opportunity for enhanced cooperation in the Mediterranean area. With the climate change conference in Copenhagen just a few weeks away, we should not lose the opportunity to develop an industrial sector that can create jobs and growth across the region."

Ministers and high-level governmental representatives from several countries will participate in the Oct. 9 conference, along with representatives from industry, research institutes and international financial institutions, providing a unique opportunity to explore future cooperation on renewable energy.

Background
The EU has set itself targets of 20% renewable energy in its overall energy consumption. While the EU will continue to maximize its own renewable production, trade with third countries in renewables could help to achieve the ambitious objective the EU has set.

For more information, see:

• Renewable energy cooperation with the Mediterranean and GCC regions (MEMO/09/442)
• EC's web page on the EU-Mediterranean-Gulf Renewable Energy Conference
• EC's web page on EU external energy policy
• EC's web page on renewable energy
• EC's web page on EU's energy technology and innovation initiatives

Source: European Commission (EC).