Regional projects to boost Euro-Med partnership in energy

A series of regional projects aimed at fostering the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the area of energy were presented to the Euro-Med Committee in Brussels on November 25, 1998.

The projects were prepared following the action plan (1998-2002) adopted by the Euro-Med. conference of energy ministers in Brussels last May. Their aim is to contribute to the three objectives agreed for the implementation of the Euro-Med. partnership in the field of energy: security of supply, competitiveness of the energy industry, and protection of the environment.

The projects cover two chapters of the action plan: political and administrative cooperation and industrial cooperation. With regard to the first, cooperation will cover the development of institutional and legislative framework. A new ad hoc group on energy will develop energy policy guidelines. This cooperation will also target the promotion of investments with a view to the completion of the Mediterranean electric ring.

As for industrial cooperation, this will include activities targeted at the upgrading of the Mediterranean partners' companies, the development of renewable energy (promotion of solar energy use), the training of decision-makers, and the creation of a network of national associations.