ΙΕΝΕ Participated in Energy Charter’s Workshop in Tirana on Euro-Mediterranean Energy Cooperation

Οn July 13, the Energy Charter in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and Industry of Albania and the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean organized in Tirana the 4^th international meeting of experts on reliable and stable transit of energy.

This one-day workshop, which was opened by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama, mainly focused on the regional cooperation and integration of energy markets in the Euro-Mediterranean region, common rules and principles for the construction and operation of energy transport infrastructure, the promotion of investments into cross-border and transit energy infrastructure as well as physical security of pipelines and grids.

IENE’s Research Associate Mr. Dimitrios Mezartasoglou actively participated in the workshop proceedings and contributed a presentation in the context of the Institute’s brief of monitoring and analyzing latest developments in the wider region. More specifically, Mr. Mezartasoglou’s contribution focused on key energy issues in South-East Europe and the necessity for regional energy cooperation through a smooth transition process. He also raised the issue of the absence of well-defined common energy policy objectives in SE Europe and the proliferation of regional energy policy organisations over recent years, posing the question whether all these are necessary. In addition, Mr. Mezartasoglou’s participation was especially relevant and timely, as IENE is currently in the process of completing its major reference study "SE Europe Energy Outlook 2016” to be released later this year.

The workshop attracted interest, among others, from Energy Ministries of Albania, Jordan, Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy as well as the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina.