CAIRO: The EU-Africa-Middle East Energy conference, held in Sharm El Sheikh on Nov. 1, will build on the existing regional agreements for further development and cooperation in the field. Co-organized by the European Commission (EC) and the Egyptian government, the conference will feature the participation of EC and key energy players from the region. The conference will harness the potential of the existing regional and bilateral initiatives such as the Euro-Mediterranean and the EU-GCC energy cooperation, as well as the forthcoming EU-Africa energy partnership. "The EC is determined to expand the EU's energy relations with its partners building on the bilateral partnerships and regional initiatives. Therefore our objective is to identify a limited number of targeted trans-regional actions that we could develop together for the benefit of enhanced energy security in all the regions concerned, said Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Commissioner. The EC and Egyptian government aim for this conference to provide an opportunity to discuss and promote regional cooperation on energy security between the EU, Middle East and Africa. "Egypt and the European Union (EU) made a big jump forward when they agreed on the European Neighborhood Action Plan at the start of the year. We have a solid platform of one billion euros of cooperation underway, Klaus Ebermann, EC ambassador to Egypt said in a press conference on Sunday. Hosted by the External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Commissioner and the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the EU-Africa-Middle East Energy Conference will include key contributions from Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for energy; representative of the European presidency; Egyptian Minister of Petroleum, Sameh Fahmi; and Minister of Electricity and Energy, Ahmed Younes. This conference is the first regional initiative addressing energy security with the participation of the EU's African and Middle East energy partners. The results of the conference will also feed into the preparation for the EU-Africa energy partnership to be launched on the occasion of the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon in December 2007. "Egypt was chosen as a venue for this event as it acts as a bridge between our energy partners in Africa and the Middle East, Faouzi Bensarsa, head of the energy cell in the EC's external relations delegation said. With oil prices surging to nearly $100 per barrel, securing energy resources is now a political issue. "We have a problem in accessing resources and climate change, as well as nearly two billion people around the world who have no access to energy, especially in Africa, Bensarsa said. The EU market model is the biggest market - including over five million consumers - that does not suffer from the energy crisis and is able to ensure energy supply with affordable prices. "We have a comprehensive policy on efficiency and renewable energies, as well as a strong external affairs policy, Bensarsa said. Through this conference, Egypt, the region and the EU will "harmonize their energy policies and pioneer in a huge cooperation initiative for the future that will be an example other countries will follow. Topics of discussion will include the security and sustainability of energy supplies, predictability of demand, investments and technology transfer, new and renewable energy, energy efficiency, the sustainable exploitation of resources, the transparency of energy markets, regulatory issues, energy poverty and energy access, as well as energy infrastructures of common interest.
