Commission confirms support for World Solar Summit Process
Speaking at the World Solar Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe, on 16 September 1996, Mr. Christos Papoutsis, Commissioner responsible for energy policy, expressed the Commission's full support for the World Solar Summit Process, initiated by UNESCO in July 1993. The World Solar Summit Process is a three-year campaign (1994-1996) aimed at promoting the use of renewable energy sources at a global level. The Commission has actively participated in, and politically and financially supported this campaign since its initiation. A proposal for a follow-up ten-year campaign, the World Solar Decade 1996-2005, was presented at the Harare Summit. Commissioner Papoutsis, on behalf of the Commission, confirmed the Community's support for this second programme and its commitment to the promotion of the development and the use of renewable energy sources: "The Commission welcomes the idea of launching a World Solar Decade 1996-2005. We attach great importance to the implementation of a series of renewable energy projects which could serve as demonstration projects". More specifically, Mr. Papoutsis confirmed the Commission's intention to use to the maximum the possibilities offered by the European union financing mechanisms: "For the promotion of renewable energies within the European union, we will use to the full and extend further the JOULE/THERMIE and ALTENER programmes. For third countries who need financial support for the promotion and implementation of renewable energies, we will do our best to help provide it through the available Community programmes and other financial instruments". Such possible financial instruments are: the European Investment Bank (EIB); the PHARE and TACIS programmes for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States; the new MEDA programme for the implementation of a Euro-Mediterranean partnership; the Community's specific RTD programme in the field of cooperation with third countries and international organizations (INCO); and, for the ACP countries, the European Development Fund (EDF).