Brussels, 15/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - Euro-Mediterranean energy market (electricity and gas) regulators are to meet on 13 November in Cyprus at their General Assembly, the MED-REG organisation (Association of Mediterranean Regulators for Electricity and Gas) states. This will be the 8th session held by the association whose aim it is to finalise an action plan for the period 2010-2012. The objective is to create a regulatory framework for a “stable, harmonised and integrated” Euro-Mediterranean market throughout the Euro-Mediterranean area, “to the benefit of consumers”.
MED-REG was created in May 2006 as an Italian non-profit making association based in Rome, supported financially by the EU and by the Italian government. It acts as a permanent forum for dialogue and exchange between regulators from all countries of the Mediterranean Basin (Albania, Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey).
In the energy sector, writes MED-REG in a strategy paper presented in June, the EU is a net energy importer, and countries of the Mediterranean Basin as a whole are endowed with more energy resources than they need for their current and near future requirements. The electricity and gas trade potential across the Mediterranean is increasing, and far from being fully developed. Hence the need for great development of energy infrastructure, trade relationships, and technological transfers.
The joint action proposed aims to encourage reforms in all member nations in order to lead to a situation of market integration in the fields of electricity and gas. The objective is also reform in the countries of the southern shore of the Mediterranean with a view to gradual integration of the Euro-Mediterranean electricity and gas markets, South-South interconnections, promotion of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and support of the Kyoto process, harmonisation of rules and standards, and information systems and statistics used in the energy sector. (F.B./transl.jl)