EU Ministers discuss renewable energies and energy efficiency with EU's southern and eastern neighbours in Berlin
German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul und German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel have invited energy and environment ministers from the EU, North Africa and the southern Caucasus to a conference in Berlin on 19 April. The conference, being held by the German EU Presidency, focuses on the question of how to guarantee Europe a sustainable energy supply and at the same time cut CO2 emissions. Participants at the conference, which is entitled "Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency - Innovative Policies and Funding Instruments for the EU's Southern and Eastern Neighbours", will also be discussing what financial support could possibly be provided by donor countries and international financing institutions.
In addition to 25 energy and environment ministers from the EU and Europe's neighbouring countries, the conference will also be attended by representatives of power utilities, regulatory authorities, transmission system operators, industry (from the field of renewable energy and from energy efficiency agencies) and civil society from these countries. The conference is being jointly staged by the German Development Ministry and the German Environment Ministry with the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, in cooperation with the European Commission. More information can be found at: www.bmz.de/energiekonferenz
The press is invited to attend the opening of the event on Thursday, 19 April between 9 and 10 a.m. The conference venue is the KfW Bankengruppe, Charlottenstraße 33/33a, 10117 Berlin.
Media representatives can obtain accreditation at www.bmz.de/energiekonferenz . Those in possession of a six-month pass from the German government's Press and Information Office (Bundespresseamt) for events in connection with Germany's EU Presidency have general access to all press events. Please register for the event well in advance. Accreditation at the event is only possible in exceptional circumstances and cannot be guaranteed. There is likely to be a long wait.