24 May 2011, 9.00-17.30
Novotel Centrum Hotel, Marszałkowska St. 94/98, Warsaw
The Polish EU Presidency chose EU external energy policy as one of its main priorities, aiming at strengthening it and thus improving energy security of the Member States. Making this issue a flagship initiative of our country creates a need for a public debate on the causes and potential solutions to the problem, especially considering its complexity and linkage with numerous other EU policies. What is a Polish vision of improving the European energy security? How to shape external energy policy of the EU in such a way that it would build energy security and respect other EU policies – climate protection and development cooperation at the same time?
Conference was chaired by Rafał Motriuk, science correspondent at the Polish Public Radio
9.00-9.30 Registration of participants
9.30-10.00 Opening speeches
10.00-11.45 EU energy security and climate protection – how to integrate the efforts? Role of the Polish EU Presidency.
Faouzi Bensarsa, Energy Counselor, Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation
Severin Fischer, German Institute for International and Security Affairs
Dr. Zbigniew Karaczun, Polish Climate Coalition
Edward Słoma, Deputy Director of the Energy Department, Ministry of Economy, Poland
How to shape external energy policy of the EU in such a way that it would build energy security and climate security at the same time? Is it possible to address these challenges in an integrated manner? What measures will enable the simultaneously improvement of energy security and implementation of the “energy solidarity” principle included in the Lisbon Treaty? Is it just diversification of supply and transit routes, or coordinated negotiations with suppliers? What is the role of renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency? What is Poland adding to the energy security debate on the level of the EU? Does it take the necessity to protect the climate into account? How can Poland contribute to improving energy security while holding the EU Presidency? Discussion.
11.45-12.00 Coffee break
12.00-13.45 Global dimensions of EU energy policy – impact on developing countries
Faouzi Bensarsa, Energy Councellor, Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation
Nicholas Hildyard, Director of The Corner House, United Kingdom
Szymon Polak, Director of the Division of the Energy Policy in the Department of Economic Policy, Polish Ministry of Foreign Affair
Sergey Solyanik, Crude Accountability, Kazakhstan
To what degree can European Union external energy policy, presuming diversification of energy supply through investments outside the EU, guarantee the improvement of European energy security? What should be the conditions of energy cooperation with developing countries? Can it contribute to achieving objectives of external EU policy in areas of poverty eradication, strengthening the rule of law, international security, and climate protection? What is the potential of great international energy investments such as Desertec, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, or Nabucco? What threats for both sides are connected with import of resources and energy from distant and often unstable locations in Africa and Asia? How to combine cooperation with the sustainable development in those regions?
13.45-14.15 Lunch
14.15-16.00 Common energy policy of the EU and interests of Member States
Andrzej Czerwiński, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Economy Committee in the Polish Sejm
Rt Hon Malcolm Wicks, Labour Party, Member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
Rainder Steenblock, Member of the Board of the Netzwerk Europäische Bewegung Deutschland, Alliance 90 / The Greens
Is common energy policy viable in light of contradictory interests of particular Member States? Can energy security of the European Union be achieved through independent efforts of Member States, or is joint action necessary? What is the impact of decisions made on the EU level on national energy policies? How to implement the “energy solidarity” principle incorporated in the Lisbon Treaty? How can Member States contribute to improving both energy security and climate security of the EU? What examples can Poland follow? Discussion.
16.00-16.30 Closing remarks
16.30-17.30 Dinner
Program of the conference and the summary of the conference as PDF-file.