Energy of the Mediterranean: Opportunities to respond to the new trends of international relations
On 22 June 2022, in Rome, WEC Italy and OME, in collaboration with Globe Italia, organized a debate hosted by Edison on the theme “from Italy to and with the Mediterranean”. The Event intended to deepen with representatives of the WEC National Committees of the Mediterranean, OME members, representatives of the Mediterranean Embassies in Rome and Italian institutional and corporate stakeholders, the potential and the contribution that greater Mediterranean energy cooperation can give to the increasingly challenging Energy Trilemma: balancing the safety, competitiveness and sustainability of the Basin’s energy needs.
In the framework of the tragic conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the issues of energy security and competitiveness of supplies, two dimensions historically under the lens of national energy strategies, are even more on the top of energy agenda of the European Union. The challenge of transition is therefore increasingly urgent and articulated in terms of balancing the need for environmental sustainability of energy mixes with the other two dimensions of the “Energy Trilemma” (environmental sustainability, energy equity, energy security).
The Mediterranean Basin presents great energy opportunities that can help build a strategic response to the worrying trends of international relations. The Mediterranean has unexpressed potential both with reference to traditional energies, starting with natural gas, to more innovative sources and technologies such as renewable sources and solutions for the production / use of hydrogen. Energy cooperation in the Basin is regaining priority starting from the ever-increasing development of the interconnections of electricity and gas networks between the European and North African shores, as well as in cooperation on policies and regulation that must accompany inclusion in energy mixes of countries of the Mediterranean Basin of energy carriers and increasingly sustainable production / consumption models.
The Conference received the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and of Luiss School of Government.
Further information are available at: https://www.wec-italia.org/conferenza-lenergia-del-mediterraneo-roma-streaming-22-giugno-2022/