Brussels, 26/04/2010 (agence EUROPE) - The Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, and more specifically the Spanish tourism and trade minister, is organising a conference together with the European Commission in Valencia on 11 and 12 May on the Mediterranean Solar Energy Plan, which is expected to be attended by ministers, representatives of the financial industry and captains of the energy industry, including representatives of the EIB (European investment Bank).
The Mediterranean Solar Energy Plan is one of the flagships of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and is designed to have a strategic influence on sustainable development in the light of the forecasts of increased energy demands in the EuroMed region and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The main aim is to produce 20 GW of electricity from solar panels along the southern Mediterranean coastline, which would act as encouragement to build the infrastructure needed to connect up with Europe's electricity grid. The plan covers the business side, technology transfer and energy efficiency. Countries in the region are urged to draw up an appropriate regulatory framework to encourage the introduction of renewable energy installations.
The Commission is already running the MEDRING (Anneau Electrique Méditerraneen, European electricity grid) programme, funding a technical study that makes short-term recommendations that are quantifiable, measureable and able to be introduced within a five year span. (F.B./transl.fl)