The Paris based International Energy Agency (IEA), the leading global intergovernmental energy organisation, is strongly represented in this year's Energy Dialogue which is organised by the Institute of Energy for South East Europe (IENE).
Now in its 12th edition, having been launched by IENE in 2007 in Thessaloniki, the SEE Energy Dialogue has emerged over the years as the region's seminal event on energy policy and business attracting hundreds of senior executives and high level experts from the region and further afield.
Notwithstanding this year's organisational difficulties, which has necessitated convening the conference entirely in virtual format, the "Energy Dialogue" is more timely than ever before in view of the fast changing environment in most European energy markets. These changes are bound to have profound implications for the region's energy landscape and hence an all round discussion is more than necessary at this time juncture.
The purpose of this regional forum, which is being organised by IENE under the auspices of the IEA and with the support of other leading international and regional organisations, including the European Commision, the IRENA, the Energy Community, the EIB, the SE Electricity Network Coordination Center, the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies and others, and with the backing of major energy companies, is to bring together high-ranking government officials, senior business executives and energy experts from across the region and discuss the burning energy issues confronting SE Europe.
The broad objective of SEEED is the exchange of information and ideas,networking and the furthering of cooperation for the tackling of the increased global and regional energy and environmental challenges. The special theme for this year's SEEED, "In Search of a New Energy Direction", is indicative of the fast changing economic and energy environment and the need to seek new direction in all facets of the energy sector, with "Energy Transition " emerging as a topic of prime importance for energy policy in the region and beyond.
The "12th SEE Energy Dialogue" virtual gathering on December 9-10 is highly topical given EU's major drive to decarbonise and promote its ambitious New Green Deal and at the same time aim for full electricity and gas integration. Europe's -and SE Europe in particular - high dependence on fossil fuels, the current volatile energy pricing environment, the global concern for the development of viable alternatives and the need to promote further carbon free solutions emerge as key policy issues. As usual the "Energy Dialogue" will also cover the latest developments in the region's evolving natural gas, electricity and RES markets, along with Energy Efficiency and green enterprising, and the ongoing energy partnerships with major oil and gas suppliers.
IEA's involvement in this year's SEEED is to be noted since apart from the presentation of the organisation's flagship publication, the "World Energy Outlook 2020" during the opening session of the conference, it has a strong input in other parts of this two day event. With Energy Efficiency being a priority area for the IEA, the Agency is actively participating through a focused presentation in the relevant session of the 12th SEEED which deals with the Global Dimension and Regional Prospects of Energy Efficiency.
The IENE by organising this year’s "SE Europe Energy Dialogue” in completely virtual format, aspires to contribute once again to a high level discussion on the region’s key energy issues but also act as a facilitator for much needed co-operation between suppliers and consumers and thus promote the role of SE Europe as a vital East-West, North-South energy bridge. It is very much hoped that the new virtual format will actually help advance even further IENE’s agenda towards this direction.
For further information about the programme and free registration to attend the event, please go to: https://www.iene.eu/en/congress/29/12th-se-europe-energy-dialogue
