First Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Energy Ministers
The first Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Energy Conference will take place in Trieste, Italy, from 7 to 9 June 1996. It will involve the Energy Ministers of the 15 EU Member States, the 12 Mediterranean partners, Energy Commissioner Christos Papoutsis, and representatives of the energy industry. The 12 Mediterranean partners are Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. The conference aims to reinforce Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the field of energy policy and to assist in developing a favourable environment for investment and in creating adequate conditions for those active in the energy sector. The implementation of this general framework will facilitate a dialogue regarding energy policies, infrastructures, networks and industrial cooperation. Discussion will be based on the Commission's communication on "Euro-Mediterranean partnership in the energy sector", adopted on 3 April 1996, and on the conclusions of the Energy Council of 7 May 1996. In particular, the main topics will be: - The definition of guidelines for partnership in the energy sector and of the most useful framework for cooperation, such as a Euro-Mediterranean Energy Forum; - Possible participation in the Energy Charter of Mediterranean partners; - The study of economic and financial options, public or private, to encourage energy investments in the Mediterranean region, including development of a guarantee system; - The implementation of projects of common interest in the field of natural gas and electricity trans-European networks with the Euro-Mediterranean partners; - The facility to finance energy projects and the definition of the methods to facilitate access to the MEDA programme by technical assistance energy projects and to ensure the consistency of interventions in the energy sector. With regard to setting up an Energy Forum, the Commission communication stated that this would have two principal objectives: - To structure cooperation between the Community and the Mediterranean partners by promoting inter-administration networks on the one hand and data interchange and dialogue with the industry on the other; - To develop the transparent mechanisms necessary for the envisaged projects. Such a forum is now warranted since the framework created by the Ministerial Conference held in Barcelona in November 1995 did not provide for a structure specifically for energy-related issues (transfer of know-how, exchange of information, better use of oil, gas and coal, development of energy networks, improvements in energy efficiency, promotion of renewable energy sources, and environmental protection). The administrations concerned must be given a means of meeting and developing joint strategies or cooperation projects under the responsibility of the Ministerial Conference.
Countries
Cyprus, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Malta, Syria, Tunisia, Türkiye