In his presentation, the Minister of Energy referred extensively to the geopolitical environment at the moment and how it affects the Energy sector in the MED9 countries.
The priorities of the upcoming Cypriot MED9 Presidency in 2024 in the energy sector were focused on by the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry Giorgos Papanastasiou on Thursday in the afternoon session of the 7th International Conference on Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Efficiency held in Nicosia.
< p class="text-paragraph">In his presentation, the Minister of Energy referred extensively to the geopolitical environment at the moment and how it affects the Energy sector in the MED9 countries. “Right now in the Middle East there is a big disturbance which we don't know how it will develop and there is another situation further north regarding the war in Ukraine” he said, explaining that all these geopolitical developments affect the energy sector globally but especially in areas that are closer to the conflict areas.
He emphasized that therefore one of the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency of the MED9 in the field of Energy will concern the effort that the countries of the MED9 that are close to the conflict areas do not present any problem in terms of the sufficiency of energy, electricity main reason.
He also noted that the Cypriot Presidency will still emphasize the electrical interconnections between the countries,
He also indicated that another very important element that started from the meeting in Malta under the Presidency of his Maltese counterpart is that an effort should be made by the MED9 countries for a project that will operate as a pilot with a horizon of larger projects through which no it will simply ensure energy supply for the MED9 countries but the supply of competitive green energy to the rest of Europe as well.
On the other hand, the Maltese Minister of Environment, Energy and Entrepreneurship Miriam Daly , expressed his belief that the Mediterranean region has a vital role to play in ensuring a green transition which he indicated is at the heart of economic recovery.
In addition, he added, the Mediterranean is a region that is of vital importance for strengthening the energy security of the Mediterranean states individually and of Europe as a whole.
He also noted that the Mediterranean region needs stability, stressing exactly how exploiting the potential of energy investments in the Mediterranean can help achieve stability in the region not only economically but also politically, creating jobs and attracting investments.
He also recalled that last May, during the first meeting of the MED9 Energy Ministers held in Valletta, the nine Mediterranean countries of the EU, including Cyprus and Malta, gathered precisely considering that the area of Mediterranean has enormous potential to accelerate the transition to clean, secure and affordable energy.
“During this meeting we managed to sign the Malta Declaration, a joint declaration on the development of renewable energy corridors in the Mediterranean as a key pillar for a climate neutral future he stressed, recalling also the creation of the Joint Steering Committee to focus on accelerating of offshore renewable energy sources and the interconnections between the MED9 countries and other Mediterranean states.
The Maltese Minister of Energy expressed satisfaction that Malta and Cyprus, exercising their successive presidencies MED9 for 2023 and 2024 respectively, “share the same commitment and enthusiasm to establish the Mediterranean as a green energy hub” and indicated that this joint commitment is more critical today than ever.
And he added that what will now have to be ensured is that this shared commitment will continue to strengthen and will result in the growth of renewable energy sources year after year.
