Improving energy efficiency in Central and Eastern Europe focus of OSCE workshop in Minsk

MINSK, 7 October 2008 - How to improve energy efficiency through regional co-operation in Central and Eastern Europe was the focus of a two-day regional workshop that ended here today.

The workshop, co-organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, the OSCE Office in Minsk and the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, gathered more than 50 participants from 15 countries and specialized organizations.

Participants shared best practices in developing strategies to improve energy efficiency, introducing innovative technologies and promoting public-private partnerships in the energy sphere.

"We need to pay equal attention to energy savings and renewable energies. Through mass media and various institutions, we also should raise awareness about necessity for energy savings among individual consumers," said Ambassador Marja-Liisa Kiljunen of Finland, representing the OSCE Chairmanship.

Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Voronetski added: "It is especially important to look for ways and means to improve energy efficiency now when we witness a continuing increase of world prices for traditional energy resources and a growing threat of climate change on a global scale."

Ambassador Hans-Jochen Schmidt, Head of the OSCE Office in Minsk said the workshop illustrated the good co-operation between Belarus and the OSCE in the economic and environmental fields, adding the theme was highly relevant for Belarus, the region and all OSCE participating States.

Alexey Stukalo, Deputy Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, added: "Enhancing energy efficiency is an integral part of energy security. It reduces energy consumption, contributes to countries' competitiveness and promotes sustainable development."

Workshop participants developed several recommendations for the OSCE's work to promote energy efficiency within the Organization's energy security dialogue.