Energy as fuel for economic growth the focus of 2018 OSCE Mediterranean conference in Malaga

MALAGA, Spain, 25 October 2018 – Energy is the fuel that powers economic growth, and as such plays a vital role in the national security of each OSCE participating State and Mediterranean Partner for Co-operation, said participants at today’s opening of the OSCE Mediterranean Conference in Malaga, Spain.

The conference is hosted by Spain, in co-operation with Slovakia as Chairmanship of the Mediterranean Contact Group and the OSCE Secretariat.

Representatives of the OSCE participating States, the six OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco,Tunisia) and several international organizations are meeting in Malaga on 25 and 26 October to discuss the importance of energy for economic growth and co-operation.

Secure and affordable energy is essential for growth that will allow the region to prosper and meet challenges such as jobs creation.

“Only by establishing open and competitive energy markets can prices be lowered, the security of supply improved, and competitiveness increased,” said Lukáš Parízek, Slovak State Secretary of Foreign and European Affairs and Special Representative of the Slovak Foreign Minister for the OSCE Chairmanship of 2019. “It is important to develop new routes for transporting energy, improve integration of the Mediterranean energy markets, and strengthen regional co-operation between companies, regulatory bodies, public authorities and financial institutions,” he said. 

Lukáš Parízeksaid that the objective of the Slovak Chairmanship of the Mediterranean Contact Group wasto help the OSCE’s Mediterranean Partners find ways to ensure secure energy supplies, a competitive energy industry and improved energy efficiency, while maintaining environmentally sound conditions and protecting their energy infrastructure.

Fernando Valenzuela, Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, said that the promotion of multilateralism, co-operation and dialogue and strong focus on Mediterranean co-operation regarding energy issues, are foreign policy priorities for the Spanish Government.  “Enhanced energy co-operation with our Mediterranean Partners on the south bank is crucial not only to ensure the supplies, transit and connections that we all need but to foster and further develop European and Mediterranean energy security,” said State Secretary Valenzuela.

Vuk Žugić,Co-ordinator for OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, said that energy is a critical topic that deserves the widest and most comprehensive dialogue possible: “Guaranteeing sustainable and reliable energy at affordable prices is an indispensable condition for prospering economies, peace and security, throughout the OSCE area and beyond.” 

Žugić noted that renewable energy is playing an increasingly important role in the energy mix of many countries in the region, which are making an effort to reduce their CO2 emissions.

“By reinforcing the connection between peace, security and development, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides an overarching framework for action; it also has clearly defined goals [Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)] that are in sync with the energy-related political commitments of OSCE participating States – in particular SDG 7, which is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all,” said Žugić.

Held since 1994, the OSCE Mediterranean Conference, has become an important high-level exercise for strengthening long-term co-operation between the OSCE and its Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, offering a unique platform to address issues of common interest for joint security.