On March 7, a significant high-level roundtable took place in Brussels, focusing on boosting collaboration in renewable energy and clean tech between Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The event, organized by DG NEAR and supported by the Director General for Energy, aimed to address key areas such as investments in renewable electricity, hydrogen, energy infrastructure, and clean tech manufacturing capacities.

During this closed-door roundtable, discussions unfolded between DG NEAR, DG ENER, and other Commission services, alongside 17 senior executives from EU companies and Business Support Organizations from the energy and clean tech sector. The dialogue aimed to understand industry needs and facilitate substantial investments in renewable electricity, hydrogen, and clean tech manufacturing capacities in North Africa and the Middle East. DG NEAR presented the Master Study currently being conducted by OMEC, IRENA and the JRC to explore the potential for cooperation on renewable electricity, renewable hydrogen, connecting infrastructure and clean tech manufacturing in the region. In addition to this Master Study, the outcomes of this roundtable are expected to shape the future of Energy and Clean Tech cooperation in the Mediterranean, aligning with the European Commission's commitment to advancing renewable energy and sustainable practices globally.

Continuing this conversation, another roundtable is scheduled for March 18, bringing together banks, institutional investors, and International Financial Institutions (IFIs). The subsequent gathering aims to delve deeper into the investment potential and financial structures of large-scale energy projects, identifying suitable financial instruments to support these ventures. The insights and recommendations from today's discussion, along with those from the upcoming roundtable, will collectively contribute to refining the strategy and priorities for the European Commission as it moves forward in this vital initiative.