Details

Energy Security and Regional Cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean Rim

Date: 8-9 June 2017

Venue: Le Méridien St. Julians Hotel, Malta

Offshore discoveries of hydrocarbons in the Levant in recent years are expected to considerably change regional dynamics. Whether it will increase the potential for peace and regional cooperation or will rather create new sources of conflict remains to be seen.

Questions to be discussed in this context include among others: How do the recent discoveries change the economic outlook of countries in the region and how do they influence their energy supply and import-export dynamics? Are the new discoveries likely to act as catalyzer of regional political and economic cooperation? How does the new context influence constellations of traditional rivals and allies? What are the underlying geopolitical aspirations of countries of the Eastern Mediterranean? And what role does the EU and other external actors play?

The workshop aims to produce tangible conclusions on new dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean and concrete recommendations for policy-makers on how to utilize the current momentum in order to foster political and economic cooperation and sustainable peace in the region.

Program

Thursday, 8 June 2017

09:15 Welcoming Remarks

Dr. Canan Atilgan, Director Regional Program South Mediterranean, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

Dr. Michael Borchard, Resident Representative, KAS Israel

09:30 Panel 1: New Discoveries and Regional Cooperation: The State of Play

Are the new discoveries likely to act as catalyzer of regional political and economic cooperation? How does the new context influence constellations of traditional rivals and allies?

Moderator: Dr. Amit Mor, CEO, Eco Energy Financial & Strategic Consulting

• New discoveries as catalyzer for economic cooperation?

  Binyamin Zomer, Israel Country Manager, Noble Energy Mediterranean Ltd.

• Underlying political interests and evolving alignments

  Dr. Harry Tzimitras, Director, Peace Research Institute Olso (PRIO) Cyprus Centre & Nonresident Senior Fellow, Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center and Global Energy Center

• Strategic and Political Considerations for the Development of Energy Resources

  Dr. Gareth Winrow, Department of Continuing Education, University of Oxford

11:30 Panel 2: Evolving Energy Supplies and Economic and Political Outlooks – Country Presentations:

How may changing market forces affect the development of oil and gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean? What role may energy companies play? To what extent will they be constrained by geopolitical factors? What are the prospects for the establishment of an energy hub in the eastern Mediterranean?

Moderator: Dr. Sohbet Karbuz, Director, Hydrocarbons Division, Mediterranean Observatory for Energy (OME)

• Dr. Amit Mor, CEO, Eco Energy Financial & Strategic Consulting
• Dr. Charles Ellinas, CEO of e-CNHC (E-C Cyprus Natural Hydrocarbons Company Ltd)

14:30 Panel 3: Evolving Energy Supplies and Economic and Political Outlooks – Country Presentations (continued):

Moderator: Dr. Gareth Winrow, Department of Continuing Education, University of Oxford

• Mehmet Öğütçü, Founder & CEO, Global Resources Partnership, Turkey
• Dr. Naji Abi-Aad, Chief Operating Officer, Petroleb, Lebanon
• Dr. Hayriye Kahveci Ozgur, Assistant Professor, Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus

17:30 Excursion: Historical harbor cruise to Sliema, Valletta and the Three Cities

20:00 Dinner

Friday, 9 June 2017

09:30 Panel 4: The Role of External Actors in the Energy Field in the Eastern Mediterranean

What is the importance of the development of energy reserves in the eastern Mediterranean for the European Union? Will gas supplies from the region help to diversify energy imports of EU member states? What roles may the United States, Russia and other possible external actors play in the export of energy supplies from the eastern Mediterranean?

Moderator: Shimon Serrousi, Co-Director Eco Energy Financial & Strategic Consulting

• Aspirations of international powers in the Eastern Mediterranean

  Charlotte Brandsma, Program Officer, Mediterranean Policy, German Marshall Fund

• EU energy supply and strategic interests

  Dr. Frank Umbach, Research Director, European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS), King‘s College London

11:30 Panel 5: Outlook: Towards Peace or Conflict?

Moderator: Dr. Canan Atilgan, Director Regional Program South Mediterranean, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

• Dr. Athanasios Dagoumas, Assistant Professor, Energy and Resource Economics, University of Piraeus & Deputy Head, Focus Group Shipping and Power Markets, Greek Energy Forum
• Nadav Perry, Head of External Relations, Delek Drilling, Israel
• Dr. Ahmet K. Han, Assistant Professor, Kadir Has University