The intention of the meeting is to demand leadership and more European cooperation on offshore wind and launch a Parliamentary Platform as a political support to the governmental North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative (NSCOGI).
Members of European, national and regional parliaments as well as city councils from more than 17 EU Member States and neighbouring countries are expected to be in attendance.
Among the main focuses of discussion is expected to be the abundant renewable energy potential of the North Seas region.
Onshore and offshore wind, grids and infrastructure, harbours, ships and the supply chain, financing and legal implications are to be discussed.
Ten European countries have also started the so -alled North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative (NSCOGI). It aims at improving the cooperation of the countries in the region to develop the future energy system.
"The North Seas bear an endless potential of renewable energy sources," said Claude Turmes, a member of European Parliament and President of EUFORES. "The 10 countries involved in the joint governmental North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative need to intensity their efforts together with the European institutions to make this lighthouse project happen in practice. The economic crisis should not weaken this promising cooperation.
"If Member States join forces, the North Seas can indeed become the future energy pool of Europe," he added.
Intense exchanges between the parliamentarians and experts from the European Commission, governments, scientists and industry representatives are expected to take place and bring more light into the complex debate on the North Seas.
"I am very honoured to welcome my parliamentary colleagues from all over Europe in Dublin Castle for this year's Inter-Parliamentary Meeting," said Senator Cáit Keane, parliamentary host of IPM13. "It is indeed crucial in these days to discuss and shape the energy future of Europe. Renewables are key in this challenge and the North Seas can be a leading example for European cooperation and interconnection – we need to get closer!"
Fiona Hall, Member of European Parliament and EUFORES Vice-President, seconded that opinion.
"In order to reach the 2020 targets for renewable energy in the European Union, we need strong commitment and leadership by political institutions on all levels," Hall said. "We need to deliver the security and confidence that investors are looking for in order to lay the grounds for this huge endeavour: nothing less than the transition to a truly sustainable EU energy system based on renewables and energy efficiency. The North Seas can play a key role if we grasp what they offer to us - but we need to make this a joint European project."
During IPM13, members of Parliament are also going to establish a new NSCOGI Parliamentary Platform as a new political support to NSCOGI, which will be organised by EUFORES as the European parliamentary network on renewables and energy efficiency.
For additional information:
13th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
