The North Seas as the future energy pool of Europe

Request strong political support for offshore wind energy in the North Seas.

Dublin, 21 June 2013 – Members of Parliament from all over Europe meet on 21 and 22 June 2013 in Dublin Castle for the 13^th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency to demand leadership and more European cooperation on offshore wind and launch a Parliamentary Platform as a political support to the governmental North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative (NSCOGI).

Members of European, national and regional parliaments as well as city councils from more than 17 EU Member States and neighbouring countries attended the EUFORES 13^th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. The abundant energy potential of the North Seas region was the main focus of the discussions. Onshore and offshore wind, grids and infrastructure, harbours, ships and the supply chain, financing and legal implications have been discussed. 10 European countries started the so called North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative (NSCOGI). It aims at improving the cooperation of the countries in the region to develop the future energy system.

Claude Turmes, Member of European Parliament and President of EUFORES, underlined: “The North Seas bear an endless potential of renewable energy sources. The 10 countries involved in the joint governmental North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative need to intensity their efforts together with the European institutions to make this lighthouse project happen in practice. The economic crisis should not weaken this promising cooperation. If Member States join forces, the North Seas can indeed become the future energy pool of Europe.”

Intense exchanges between the parliamentarians and experts from the European Commission, governments, scientists and industry representatives took place and brought more light into the complex debate on the North Seas.

Senator C