Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference gives its firm support of the development of scenarios for enhanced energy cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region, the conference concluded at the closing of the meeting on Tuesday 21 October.
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On 20 October Nordic Council and Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC), co-organized a Dinner Debate on the Baltic Sea Region Scenarios for the Transformation to Renewable Energy Sources, in the Danish Parliament. Baltic Development Forum has initiated the study on different scenarios together with Ea Energy Analyses.
The BSPC’s Working Group on Energy had invited Member of the European Parliament, Jose Hasse Ferreira who informed participants about a similar working process in the European Parliament that based itself on energy scenarios. Helge Ørsted Pedersen, representative from Ea Energy Analysis, made a broad introduction into the decision-making process in the field of energy in Denmark where broad political discussions were also based on different energy scenarios, contributing to the establishment of common reference-points and data thereby working constructively towards political convergence and finally a political compromise.
On the basis of a presentation of the special characteristics of the Baltic Sea Region in terms of energy-mix, and energy consumption and production, Anders Kofoed-Wiuff, Ea Energy Analyses presented two possible scenarios for the Baltic Sea Region: A Small-tech scenario and a Big-tech scenario. Both scenarios aim at achieving reduction of 50 per cent of CO2 emissions and reduction of oil consumption by 50 per cent in 2030.
Vice-chairman of the BSPC Working Group, Anne-Grete Holmsgaard concluded by giving strong support for the further development of the scenarios for enhanced energy cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region.
This initiative tie well in with the European Council’s decision to develop an EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and in light with the October conclusions of the European Council, which support the Commission initiative of establishing a plan of action to speed up interconnections in the Baltic region, the development of scenarios for enhanced cooperation is becoming more then urgent. An EU High Level Group on energy will develop an action plan on improved interconnection in the Baltic Sea Region (first presentation is foreseen at the BASREC ministerial meeting in February 2009).
Baltic Development Forum and Ea Energy Analysis will strengthen work on the energy scenarios with the objective of promoting broad consensus on a list of prioritised energy project that can improve energy security in the Baltic Sea Region, establish an efficient energy market, reduce CO2 emissions as well as promote renewable energies.
This question will be taken up at the Baltic Development Forum Summit 1-2 December in Copenhagen Congress Center, where ministers, parliamentarians, politicians on local and regional level will discuss the matters together with CEO of the Region’s leading energy producing companies.