MEDENER and RCREEE launch the 2nd phase of the EU Funded project “meetMED II”

A new phase of EU Funded project “meetMED” starts aiming to enhance the energy security of beneficiary countries (namely Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia) while fostering their transition to low carbon economy.

April 7, 2021: MEDENER and RCREEE were proud to organize the online launching event of the 2nd phase of the EU-funded project “Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean Region (meetMED) on the 7th of April 2021, gathering more than 130 participants from all Mediterranean countries.

Following the success of its first phase (MEETMED I, from 2018-2020), meetMED project commences a new phase aiming to enhance the energy security of beneficiary countries (namely Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia) while fostering their transition to low carbon economy. meetMED II will also be contributing to the creation of more stable, efficient, competitive, and climate-resilient socioeconomic contexts in the targeted countries. The second phase of meetMED will run until June 2024.

The event started with opening remarks from Mr. Stefano Dotto, DG NEAR, EU Commission. In his notes, Mr. Dotto emphasized upon the importance of meetMED project highlighting: “The launch of meetMED II happens when the European Commission and the European External Action Service are working on designing regional and bilateral cooperation programs for the next 7 years. We have been supporting energy efficiency measures in the industrial sector of almost all southern neighbourhood countries for the past decade….and we are now focusing on other big energy-consuming sectors in the region mainly building and appliances sectors”. Mr Leonidas Kioussis who was giving for DG ENER the closing words insisted that this project was in line with the Green Deal, the “peak of EU policy” that stated ambitious objectives of reaching net zero GHG emissions by 2050. “A package of regulations and legislative acts were delivered in 2020 such as the Renovation Wave, the Climate Law and recently the New European Bauhaus Initiative “. This policy will bring not only impacts on climate change and energy but could also be a growth strategy that will create new opportunities and jobs” he has concluded pointing the interest of “working together in order to enhance national and regional policies on EE in the Mediterranean region”.

Mr. Giorgio Graditi, President, MEDENER, and Dr. Maged K. Mahmoud, Acting Executive Director, RCREEE welcomed all the attendees from the region and expressed their happiness and honor to be entrusted with the design and implementation of meetMED II and to start a new phase of the project supporting the region transition towards a sustainable future.

The event gathered a unique selection of stakeholders’ representatives and speakers from the League of Arab States, New and Renewable Energy Authority in Egypt (NREA), the APRUE in Algeria, AMEE in Morocco, ANME in Tunisia, the Center for Mediterranean Integration, the EEB Community, IRENA, UN-ESCWA, representatives of the PEEB program, ADEME, ENEA, and RCREEE experts.

Through its three tailored sessions, regional and national experts presented the main regional and national priorities in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency along with meetMED II initial action plan and expected outcomes. Speakers assured the importance of synergizing efforts to a greater impact.

“Our approach will mainly focus upon strengthening national and regional cooperation to support the massive deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in building and appliances’ sectors while increasing public awareness on energy’s major stakes and challenges, and needed investments in these sectors,” says meetMED II Project Manager, Ms. Alicia Tsitsikalis.

MeetMED II activities aim at strengthening the implementation of EE measures and improving countries’ energy mix focusing on building and appliances’ sectors through a multiscale, multipartner, and inclusive approach at local and regional levels, thereby fostering regional cooperation.

Through its wide network of experts, meetMED II dedicates special attention to capacity development activities and awareness-raising on clean energy transition in the region. Besides, meetMED II will develop new mechanisms and tools to facilitate access to finance for efficient buildings and performant equipment.

Notably, the design and implementation of the MEETMED second phase are entrusted to MEDENER, which is an international no-profit organization gathering agencies from North and South of the Mediterranean region in charge of implementing public policies on energy efficiency and promotion of renewable energy sources; and to the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), which is an intergovernmental organization aiming to enable and increase the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency practices in the Arab region. The project is funded by the European Commission.

The event’s recording is available through the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SekhFQH268Y

For more information, please contact:

• Ms. Alicia Tsitsikalis, meetMED II Project Manager Email: alicia.tsitsikalis@ademe.fr
• Ms. Yasmeen Oraby, meetMED II Communication Officer Email: yasmeen.oraby@rcreee.org