External dimension
Facts, Figures, Analysis
Legislation
News room
Funding
News feeds

External dimension

The Mediterranean

Commission welcomes Desertec and Medgrid cooperation on solar energy in North Africa and the Middle East

In the margins of the Energy Council of 24 November 2011, Energy Commissioner Oettinger welcomed the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Desertec Industry Initiative (Dii) and Medgrid. The MoU establishes closer cooperation between the two private industry initiatives, which are key to the promotion of a renewable energy partnership between the EU and countries in the Southern Mediterranean. Areas of cooperation will include exchange of information, update on progress, joint evaluation of potential synergies, and joint efforts on the EU and Middle-East and North Africa level to obtain a more favourable regulatory framework for renewable energy markets.

Press release [IP/11/1448, 24/11/2011]All available translations.

Creating a more integrated Mediterranean energy market is of primary importance for coping with the fast growing energy demand in the Southern Mediterranean Countries, while favouring low-carbon and renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. At the 5th Euro-Mediterranean Energy Ministerial Conference that took place in Limassol. Ministers and the Commissioner endorsed the Ministerial Declaration and its 2008-2013 Priority Action Plan for the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the field of energy.

At the Paris summit meeting on July 13th 2008, the Heads of states and governments of the European and Mediterranean countries have launched the Union for the Mediterranean which provided a new impetus for regional cooperation. In the energy field, the flagship project of the Union for the Mediterranean will be the Mediterranean Solar Plan.

The Mediterranean Solar Plan

The Mediterranean Solar Plan aims at two complementary targets: developing 20 GW of new renewable energy production capacities and achieving significant energy savings around the Mediterranean by 2020, thus addressing both supply and demand. Based on pilot projects launched in 2009-2010, a master plan for the deployment of large scale investments is expected by end 2010. The Commission undertook an identification study for the Mediterranean Solar Plan as a support to its realisation.

Report “Identification Mission for the Mediterranean Solar Plan” pdf - 2 MB [2 MB]

During its meeting of 10 February 2010 pdf - 12 KB [12 KB] , the Mediterranean Solar Plan experts' group examined a strategy paper. pdf - 41 KB [41 KB]

A High Level conference on the Mediterranean Solar Plan was organized in Valencia on 11-12 May 2010 in the context of the Spanish EU Presidency

 

The Commission cooperates with the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean on the implementation of the Mediterranean Solar Plan.

As a support tool, the Commission launched in September 2010 a comprehensive technical assistance project "Paving the Way for the Mediterranean Solar Plan".

Related documents

  • Günther Oettinger
  • Philip Lowe
Calendar
Top