Context

The Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) launched, in November 2015, the Mediterranean Forum on Electricity and Climate Change, a permanent discussion platform among countries, international organisations, regulators and electricity companies, and organised a first regional workshop entitled ‘From COP21 to COP22: Renewables and Mediterranean Integration’ (Tunis, 27th May 2016).

The CMI was also actively involved in the MEDCOP 21 (Marseille, June 2015), COP 21 (Paris, December 2015), MEDCOP 22 (Tangiers, July 2016), COP 22 (Marrakesh, November 2016) and the Union for the Mediterranean Energy Ministerial Meeting (Rome, December 2016).

One of the key messages that emerged from these events is that Mediterranean integration improves power system flexibility, and therefore enables a higher penetration of renewable energy into the power systems of interconnected countries and that coordination, cooperation and integration are essential to support the development of the vast renewable potential of the South, in support of the implementation of the Paris Agreement. When the CMI conducted consultation on its 2017 work program, priority was given to the organization of an event that would explain the EU ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ Package to Southern Mediterranean countries.

On 30 November 2016, the European Commission published its long anticipated ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ package, more commonly referred to as the ‘Winter Package’, consisting of numerous legislative proposals together with accompanying documents, aimed at further completing the internal market for electricity and implementing the Energy Union.

The Package may have important implications for the Southern countries, given they are endowed with a vast solar energy potential that can be developed, not only to serve their home market, but also to competitively supply European markets that have ambitious CO2 reduction objectives.

Objectives

The objectives of the event are to educate the Mediterranean countries on the EU ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ Package and improve their understanding of its implications for the development of renewable energy in Southern Mediterranean countries.

The event provides a concise presentation of the different documents comprising the EU ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ Package, notably the proposed RES Directive and the proposal for a new electricity regulation, so that stakeholders in Southern Mediterranean countries can take part in shaping the final forms of the Directives and Regulations, in order to fully reflect the benefits of Mediterranean integration

Resources  

Agenda

Proceedings

Participants Presentations

Introduction

Link1: Malta's Energy Policy and the Role of the Mediterranean Energy Market Integration, Ronald Mizzi, Malta  

Session 1: Setting the Stage: Round Table on the Creation of an Integrated Mediterranean Energy Market

Link1: The Role of the Malta-Italy Interconnector, Jonathan Scerri, Enemalta plc

Link2: Regional Integration of Energy Market-Europe and North Africa; Kevin Sara, TuNur

Link3: Overview of Pan-Arab regional energy trading platform (PA-RETP); Sameh Mobarek, World Bank

Link4: Why Should the Mediterranean Integrate, Jonathan Walters, Castalia Strategy

Session 2: The EU ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ Package

Link1: Clean Energy for All Europeans-Proposal; Mechthild Wörsdörfer, European Commission

Link2: From the 2020-package to The Winter Package Which Way Forward for Renewables in Europe? Mario Ragwitz,  Faurnhofer ISI

Link3: Market Design for a Low-Carbon Electricity Sector, Silvia Pariente-David, CMI

Session 3: General Discussion on Implications of the EU ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ Package for Southern Mediterranean Countries

Link1: Accelerating the Energy Transition in the Mediterranean Region-Towards a New Sustainable Energy Mix; Nicolò Di Gaetano, MEDREG

Link2: Renewable Energy in Egypt; Hala El-Kholy, NREA

Link3: The Italy-Tunisia Interconnection; Angelo Ferrante, Med-TSO