EU ­ Mediterranean - Gulf Renewable Energy Conference The news: The European Commission will host a Ministerial level conference on Renewable energy cooperation between the EU, the Mediterranean and the Gulf countries on 9th October 2009 in Brussels. Gathering Foreign Ministers and Energy Ministers from the EU, Mediterranean and Gulf regions, as well as representatives from international organizations, industry, research institutes and international financial institutions, the Conference will provide a unique opportunity to explore the scope for future cooperation on renewable energy. In three discussion sessions, the Conference will address challenges and possibilities for practical co-operation on policy frameworks, as well as projects of common interest that could facilitate the development of local renewable energy opportunities in the Mediterranean and Gulf countries. The conference will be hosted by the Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs will open the day's debate with a major speech on renewable energy policy. The background: The Conference will build on the EU's policy measures and experience in developing renewable energy sources, and assist in the efforts to tackle the climate change. For the Mediterranean region, the conference will build on the ongoing and planned initiatives, such as the Euro-Mediterranean energy market integration project, supporting the integration of electricity markets in the Maghreb; the project on energy efficiency cooperation; the cooperation of the Euro-Mediterranean energy regulators; the Action Plan for high priority renewable energy initiatives in Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Area project , and the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Cairo. For countries of the Gulf region, the Ministerial conference will provide an opportunity to explore the scope for future cooperation with the EU, stemming also from the 19th EU-GCC Joint Council and Ministerial meeting held on 29th April 2009 in Muscat, and the commitment to launch an EU-GCC clean energy network to facilitate cooperation in this area. The event: EU-Mediterranean-Gulf Renewable Energy Conference, Charlemagne building, rue de la Loi 170, Brussels. EbS and photographer will cover the key note speeches. The sources: EU-Mediterranean-Gulf Renewable Energy Conference website http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/energy/events/renewable_energy_conference_2009/i ndex_en.htm Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/ferrero-waldner/index_en.htm Commissioner Piebalg's website: http://europa.eu/comm/commission_barroso/piebalgs/team_en.htm. The contacts: Christiane Hohmann +32 2 29 91196 christiane.hohmann@ec.europa.eu Anja Fiedler +32 2 29 80385 anja.fiedler@ec.europa.eu 17 - Hoofdinhoud

The European Commission will host a Ministerial level conference on Renewable energy cooperation between the EU, the Mediterranean and the Gulf countries on 9th October 2009 in Brussels.

Gathering Foreign Ministers and Energy Ministers from the EU, Mediterranean and Gulf regions, as well as representatives from international organizations, industry, research institutes and international financial institutions, the Conference will provide a unique opportunity to explore the scope for future cooperation on renewable energy. In three discussion sessions, the Conference will address challenges and possibilities for practical co-operation on policy frameworks, as well as projects of common interest that could facilitate the development of local renewable energy opportunities in the Mediterranean and Gulf countries.

The conference will be hosted by the Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs will open the day's debate with a major speech on renewable energy policy.

achtergrond

The Conference will build on the EU's policy measures and experience in developing renewable energy sou rces, and assist in the efforts to tackle the climate change. For th e Mediterranean region, the conference will build on the ongoing and planned initiatives, such as the Euro-Mediterranean energy market integration project, supporting the integration of electricity markets in the Maghreb; the project on energy efficiency cooperation; the cooperation of the Euro-Mediterranean energy regulators; the Action Plan for high priority

renewable energy initiatives in Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Area project , and the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Cairo.

For countries of the Gulf region, the Ministerial conference will provide an  opportunity to explore the scope for future cooperation with the EU, stemming also from the 19th EU-GCC Joint Council and Ministerial meeting held on 29th April 2009 in Muscat, and the commitment to launch an EU-GCC clean energy network to facilitate cooperation in this area.

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EU-Mediterranean-Gulf Renewable Energy Conference, Charlemagne building, rue de la Loi 170, Brussels.

EbS and photographer will cover the key note speeches.

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EU-Mediterranean-Gulf Renewable Energy Conference website

http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/energy/events/renewable_energy_conference_2009/i

ndex_en.htm

Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/ferrero-waldner/index_en.htm

Commissioner Piebalg's website:

http://europa.eu/comm/commission_barroso/piebalgs/team_en.htm.  

persberichten  

Christiane Hohmann

+32 2 29 91196

christiane.hohmann@ec.europa.eu

Anja Fiedler

+32 2 29 80385

anja.fiedler@ec.europa.eu