EU-Maghreb Energy Cooperation for a New Era - The War, Dependencies and Climate Change

While the European Hydrogen Energy Conference (EHEC) will be taking place in Madrid, FNF Madrid and FNF Morocco join forces to discuss the effects of the Russian war and the climate crisis for the future of energy trade and cooperation in the Western Mediterranean.

Concerns in Europe regarding reliability and dependency on energy imports should be addressed more seriously while the EU is still lacking a coherent approach regarding their strategic interests in the region. Bilateral cooperation remains the dominating force. In the energy sector, this is also true because of the lack of an integrated European energy market.
The timing for a new impulse is appropriate. New technological possibilities allow new ways to transport electricity (hydrogen) over large distances, mitigating some of the security risks associated with a physical grid. Demand in Europe for reliable energy from diverse sources is urgent, since less dependency on Russian gas could have positive long-term effects on a joint European energy policy.

Furthermore, taking into consideration the European Green Deal, energy cooperation opens up win-win situations: While North African countries such as Morocco and Tunisia can help Europe achieve its CO2 emission targets and strengthen its position in competition with China. The promotion of European investments in renewable energies, including promising projects such as green hydrogen, guarantees jobs in countries of origin and local development. This reduces (economic) migration pressure, contributes to the further stabilization of the region and ultimately also to climate protection and thus the prevention of climate refugees.

Speakers
• Nemesio Fernández Costa, Ex Secretario de Estado de Energía
• David Henneberger, Head of the FNF Madrid Office

Moderator: Iskander Ben Mustapha, Project Manager - Senior Advisor - International Development - Renewable Energies

#FNFMAD #freedompartners