Analysing energy and security trends with sub-regional and isolated West or East Mediterranean lenses has tended to prevail in academic and policy circles alike over the last years. The European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) and the Cyprus Centre of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) are pleased to team up and organise this Public Roundtable, to make the case for looking into energy and security in the Mediterranean in an integrated way.
In March 2021, a Western Mediterranean country, France, joined the East Mediterranean Gas Forum. Over the last months, Morocco and Israel have intensified their energy proximation, with prospects for Israeli companies to explore possible gas reserves off the coast of Morocco. These are only two illustrations of trans-Mediterranean cooperation dynamics. Ahead of the COP27 to be held in Cairo later this year, and the Mediterranean being a climate change hotspot, an integrated Mediterranean cooperation effort to mitigate the risks is a necessity. Similarly, the effects of the war in Ukraine and the energy-security ramifications call for reinforced cooperation in the Mediterranean.
At the same time, there is a risk that competition over production or exploitation of energy sources gives rise to new tensions, with possible impact across the Mediterranean. Similarly, the case of Morocco and Algeria shows how disputes between countries in the region may have consequences in terms of energy and security for the whole region.
This panel will explore the various themes and their interconnectivity, attempting to connect thematic and geographical dots in the energy, security, migration, and climate fields, in the broader Mediterranean, East and West.
18.15 -18.20 (GMT+2) Welcoming words
Senén Florensa, Executive President of the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed)
Harry Tzimitras, Director, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) Cyprus Centre
18.20-19.00 Panel
Moderated by Emmanuel Cohen-Hadria, Director of the Euro-Mediterranean Policies Department, IEMed
Laury Haytayan, MENA Director, Natural Resource Governance Institute
Aurelia Mañé, Professor, University of Barcelona
Karim Elgendy, Associate Fellow, Chatham House
Harry Tzimitras, Director, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Cyprus Centre
Kristian Berg Harpviken, Director, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) Middle East Centre
19.00-19.45 Public Debate
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