Joint statement by Günther H.
Oettinger, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for
energy, and Konrad Mizzi, Minister for Energy and Health of the
Government of Malta
Today, Energy Ministers from the
EU, North Africa and the East Mediterranean, high officials, industry
representatives and key stakeholders in the energy sector met in Malta
to exchange views on how gas-related developments in the Mediterranean
region can enhance security of supply in Europe, North Africa and the
Middle East.
This discussion takes place at a
critical time when the wider geopolitical events could have
implications on energy security. In reaction to this, and in line with
the European Council conclusions of March 2014, the European Union is
putting further impetus on its supply diversification objectives. North
African and Eastern Mediterranean countries are also looking to develop
their economies and meet increasing domestic energy demand.
The Participants agreed that
secure, sustainable and affordable energy is a priority for all, and is a
key factor for underpinning stability and prosperity in the region.
They underlined the importance of regional cooperation to strengthen
security of supply but also to favour regional trade at the interest of
both gas producers and consumers in the EU, North Africa and the Middle
East.
In doing so the importance of a
stable and predictable political, legal and regulatory framework was
stressed, as was the importance of promoting an attractive investment
environment for local and third party investors.
In order to progress on these issues, the Ministers agreed in principle to establish a 'Euro-Mediterranean Platform on Gas’
that would bring together policy makers, industrial representatives,
regulators and energy stakeholders. This Platform will assist in the
development of Euro-Mediterranean relations on gas issues. Its aim will
be in particular to ensure greater convergence between the policies of
the various countries, address upstream production challenges, promote
third party upstream investments, improve the conditions for imports of
oil and gas from producing countries, develop the necessary
infrastructure of common interest, promote technology cooperation,
examine gas pricing mechanisms, facilitate market access, cooperate on
the domain of safety and security and work together on the promotion of
regional energy security.
The Euro-Med gas platform would
contribute to the ongoing efforts aimed at enhancing Europe's energy
security and at meeting specific 2030 interconnection objectives.
The scope of work and the
operating rules of the 'Euro-Mediterranean Platform on Gas’, could be
developed with the support of the "Observatoire Méditerranéen de
l'Énergie" (OME).
The further elaboration on the modus operandi
of the platform will be discussed in the coming months with a view to
establishing a fully-fledged proposal to be endorsed at the High Level
Conference on "Euro-Mediterranean Energy Partnership" which will take
place in Rome on 19 November 2014.
Participants discussed the
possibility of this platform playing a key role in the creation of a
Mediterranean Gas Hub in line with the European Energy Security Strategy
(EESS).
