EU Sustainable Energy for All Summit, Brussel - Hoofdinhoud

The news:

On 16 April, the European Commission and the Danish Presidency of the EU Council will host the EU Sustainable Energy for All Summit. This event will bring together high-level representatives from the EU, United Nations, developing countries, industry and civil society organisations committed to achieving sustainable energy for all by 2030. This ambitious goal was set up by a High Level Group led by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, of which Commissioner Piebalgs is a Member.

The Summit will be opened by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, and UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. Other high profile guests are expected to include Michelle Bachelet (Executive Director, UN Women), Armando Guebuza, President of Mozambique, Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank Group, Werner Hoyer, President of European Investment Bank and Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Director General of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. Commissioner Piebalgs will co-chair the event and give the closing speech together with Christian Friis Bach Danish Minister for Development Cooperation.

As the largest provider of development assistance in the world, the EU plays a crucial role in efforts to end energy poverty around the globe. However, providing universal access to sustainable energy will require the combined action of a large coalition of actors from the public and private sectors alike.

The conference aims to mobilise the efforts of all concerned in order to promote growth in developing countries through access to sustainable energy. It will also put a special focus on gender and access to sustainable energy for women. This summit will be important; both in preparing for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Brazil in June 2012 and in helping to define the way forward for the EU's contribution to the Sustainable Energy for All initiative.

The background:

Around 1.3 billion people in the world are deprived of access to electricity and the opportunities it provides for working, learning or operating a business.

Some 2.7 billion people use wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste to cook their meals and heat their homes, exposing themselves and their families to smoke and fumes that damage their health and kill nearly 2 million people every year.

Without access to energy we cannot achieve the Millennium Development Goals – nor can we promote economic development. It is this unacceptable situation which prompted UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to launch his "Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All)" initiative September 2011.

The EU offers expertise as well as development funding to provide access to secure, affordable, clean and sustainable energy services. This UN initiative therefore presents a significant opportunity for the EU and developing countries to further cooperate with public institutions, businesses, research institutions and civil society in order to help make sure that energy is accessible for everyone.

The event:

The event will take place at the Charlemagne Building in Brussels on 16 April, from 9 30am - 6.00pm.

A press conference with high profile attendees will take place at 11.30am in the Press Room at Berlaymont.

Registration will open over the next few days. Please contact us for further information in the meantime on the emails below.

The sources:

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/what/energy/sustainable/index_en.htm

http://www.sustainableenergyforall.org/

http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/sustainableenergyforall/

The contacts:

Catherine Ray: +32 2 296 99 21 Catherine.ray@ec.europa.eu

Wojtek Talko: +32 2 297 85 51 Wojtek.talko@ec.europa.eu