28 March 2023, 14.30-16.00 CET

School of Government, Luiss Guido Carli, Viale Pola 12

Over the past year Europe’s energy markets have known their worst crisis in decades. The rapid phasing out of Russian gas triggered by Moscow’s aggression of Ukraine has brought the issue of energy security to the fore. The crisis has also started to reshape the relationships between Europe and oil and gas producing countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as the latter appear increasingly central to Europe’s strategy to find alternatives to Russia as a key energy provider.

However, Europe has also engaged on the path towards energy transition as it needs to implement its Green Deal strategy and fulfil its commitments to de-carbonization in the medium to long-term. Emphasis is being put on renewable energy sources. Similarly, many countries in the North Africa, the Middle East and the Gulf start to see green energy as important to fight the adverse effects of climate change in the region as well as a key component of their economic diversification strategies.

How is the imperative of securing energy supply likely to impact Europe’s energy transition? Is a long-term partnership on renewables possible between Europe and the MENA region? How can Europe’s and MENA countries’ perspectives combine on energy supply and energy transition?

Moderators:

• Prof. Luigi Narbone, Director of the Mediterranean Platform, Luiss School of Government
• Dr. Cyril Widdershoven, Associate expert with the Mediterranean Platform, Luiss School of Government

Speakers:

• Ms Amena Bakr, Chief OPEC Correspondent, Energy Intelligence
• Dr. Eckart Woertz, Director, GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies
• Dr. Omar Al-Ubaydli, Director of Research, Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat)
• Leon Stille, Managing director, New Energy Institute

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