IENE Celebrates 21 Years Since its Foundation

It was on July 16, 2003 that the group of 15 founding members of the Institute met formally in the premises of the National Research Foundation, in Athens to sign the Articles of Association of the newly born Institute of Energy for SE Europe (IENE) and discuss its prospects in the then fast changing economic and social environment of South East Europe. The vast geopolitical changes that shook Europe and the world, following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the communist regimes in Eastern Europe, were still fresh and the actual political and energy changes in SE Europe were still in their infancy. The Energy Community had not even been formed (it was founded following Greece’s initiative in 2005) while Athens, where the Institute is based, was then playing a leading role in the energy transformation of the region.

This initial group of founding and forward-looking partners decided right from the outset to focus the Institute’s activities in the broader area of South East Europe, including Turkey and the East Mediterranean, as they firmly believed that key energy issues should be examined and tackled on a regional basis. The founding partners of IENE were convinced that only through a regional approach they could make a useful contribution towards solving the apparently, at the time, intractable problems such as energy market liberalization and energy security. It is worth noting that decarbonization of the energy system had not yet emerged as an issue of top priority.

Fast forward 21 years and in 2024 the Institute has managed to establish itself as one of the leading energy think tanks of SE Europe with regular presence in the various countries through the undertaking of regionally focused research and studies and the organisation of events and related activities. Most important of which is the annual “SEE Energy Dialogue”, which was launched back in 2007 in Thessaloniki and last month it celebrated 15 years of convention. The publication of IENE’s seminal report, “The SEE Energy Outlook”, now in its 4th edition, (under preparation) is another such major activity. Forming energy bridges in the region is yet another priority, as the recent 1st Greek-Turkish Energy Forum, successfully organised by the Institute in Istanbul on April 25,2024, clearly attests.

Overall, the Institute’s continuous engagement in energy issues, most importantly through the regular publication of newsletters and analysis, and participation in public consultations and the public dialogue at large, is indicative of its commitment towards achieving a better understanding and appreciation of the complex energy and related environmental issues confronting our society. In this context IENE’s role in the present economic and social environment in Greece and South East Europe is crucial and its partners, its members and supporting companies and organisations are determined to enhance the Institute’s further development and advancement.