Press Release: Loyola de Palacio welcomes the new dynamics of the Euro-Mediterranean energy partnership

The Energy Euro-Mediterranean forum, which met at the ministerial level in Rome on 1-2 December 2003, gave an important boost to energy co-operation between the Mediterranean partners. Agreement was reached on the principle of a genuine Euro-Mediterranean energy policy, which aims to promote the security of supplies, competitiveness and transparency of the markets and environmental protection. Several concrete actions were decided as, for instance, the development of regional partnerships, the building of infrastructure projects of common interest, aiming at the consolidation of the existing interconnections, and of new projects for the interconnection of the networks. During this meeting, several agreements and declarations of intent were signed, which pave the way for an increased regional integration and reinforced co-operation on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea. They include an Israel-Palestinian Authority joint declaration, a protocol on the Maghreb electricity market, and a declaration of intention on the Mashrek gas market.