Laqgha Ministerjali Ewro-Mediterranja dwar l-Energija

Fi tmiem il-laqæa Ministerjali Ewro-Mediterranja dwar l-Eneríija, fi Brussels il-Ministru tal-Finanzi u Kummerð, Leo Brincat, approva f'isem Malta l-istqarrija uffiðjali tal-konferenza li tidher hawn taht:

MAY 1998 -

STATEMENT OF THE MINISTERIAL MEETING OF 11th MAY 1998

The Council of the European Union, the European Commission, Algeria, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, The Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority,

taking part in the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on energy, held in Brussels on 11th May, 1998,

considering that the Euro-Mediterranean Barcelona Conference of 27th and 28th November, 1995, marked the start of a new partnership based on the creation of a haven of peace and stability, as well as of an economic area based on free trade and the development of economic and financial co-operation between the European Union and its twelve Mediterranean Partners;

considering the pivotal role of energy in the implementation of the Partnership and therefore the need to strengthen co-operation and to intensify the dialogue in the field of the energy policies as well as to encourage the introduction of appropriate framework conditions for investments and the activities of the energy companies

considering the Euro-Mediterranean Conference on the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership in the field of energy, which was held in Trieste on 7th and 8th June 1996, and which decided the setting up of the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Forum as a flexible framework which can ensure the continuity of dialogue between all the partners, at political and at expert level, and promote projects of regional interest;

considering the opinion expressed during the first meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Forum, which was held in Brussels on 13th May 1997 and which envisages the development of an Action Plan of the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Forum;

considering the Euro-Mediterranean Malta Conference of 15th and 16th April, 1997, which stressed, with regard to the economic and financial Partnership, the importance of reinforcing and of concentrating the activities on priority sectors, among which energy, where co-operation started successfully;

HAVE AGREED ON THE FOLLOWING

1. Energy policy objectives

1.1 Ministers agree, on the basis of the Energy Policy Document drawn up jointly by the Secretariat of the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Forum and all the Mediterranean Partners, in relation with the industry, to set-up for the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership in the field of energy, the following objectives:

all the more facilitated by actions of co-operation in the fields of institutional approximation and energy legislation.

2. Medium-term Action Plan of the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Forum

2.1 Ministers adopt the Action Plan of the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Forum covering the period 1998-2002, aiming at contributing to the agreed objectives.

2.2 Ministers invite all the actors involved (Mediterranean Partners, Member States of the European Union, European institutions, industry, financial institutions, etc.) to take appropriate measures to implement all the initiatives of the Action Plan.

2.3 They agree that the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Forum will give the label of "action of regional interest" to initiatives which will contribute more particularly to the implementation of this Action Plan.

2.4 Ministers instruct the Secretariat of the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Forum to follow the implementation of the Action Plan, in particular by a regular contact with industry and the various donors, and the establishment of an annual report on the actions which will contribute to the implementation of the Action Plan.