The opening panel “Ties between Energy, Development and Security”, moderated by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić, discussed the crisis in Greece. Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said it was not only a matter of budget and finances but was one of the most crucial geopolitical moments since WW2. Development, he said, was a precondition for security and vice versa, that is why economy, development and security require comprehensive approach. Gentiloni noted the Trans Adriatic Pipeline as an excellent example of regional, economic and political linkage.
Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati pointed out the European Union’s weakness in regard to a joint approach to energy, warning that the crisis in Europe stemmed from the areas of security, energy and development.
European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said the EU was working on a secure energy market, adding it was important to keep in mind the countries getting energy from one source only, which is why the EU placed such importance on the Turkish Stream. Cañete underscored climate changes as a global security issue, stressing the importance of energy efficiency.
Amos Hochstein, the U.S. Department of State Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, highlighted the political and economic significance of energy projects, noting the prospect of Croatia spearheading an LNG terminal. “We have to bear in mind Europe’s best interest as the next nine months will be crucial for its long-term future,” he concluded.
Moderator:
Vesna Pusić, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs
Speakers:
Amos J. Hochstein, Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs leading the Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR) at the U.S. Department of State
Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy
Paolo Gentiloni, Italian Foreign Minister
Ditmir Bushati, Albanian Foreign Minister