Es gilt das gesprochene Wort 19…

Es gilt das gesprochene Wort                                      19.04.2007




    Überschrift/Titel: Renewable energy and energy efficiency in the
                       European neighbourhood policy
           Untertitel: Innovative Policy and financing instruments for a
                       sustainable energy policy in the European
                       neighbourhood policy
           Redner/in: Sigmar Gabriel

              Anlass: European Neighbourhood Conference, 19 April
                      2007
                   Ort: Berlin



Ingrid,
Heidemarie,
Mr Carl,
Mr Mohammed El-Ashry,
Ladies and Gentlemen,


We are at a decisive point. The challenges of climate change are great ­
and they continue to grow. Last week, the IPCC Report again underlined
that climate change will result in higher mortality rates, for example due
to more heat waves. This is no less a matter than the future of our
planet. It must be clear to us all that we can only tackle it together.
Either we continue as before and run headlong into disaster, or we face
the challenges of the future, the challenges of climate change, and act
now.


Europe needs its southern and eastern neighbours. Europe forms a very
closely knit energy market with its neighbours. A number of these are

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Sigmar GabrielTitel: Renewable energy and energy efficiency in the European neighbourhood policy

exporting or transit countries for oil and gas to Europe. Together we can
not only expand the grids and pipelines, but also create a new "pillar" for
the energy security of Europe and its neighbours through the targeted
expansion of renewable energies, energy-saving and increased
efficiency.


Ladies and Gentlemen


This energy conference in the framework of Europe's neighbourhood
policy is taking place at a critical moment. It is more and more apparent
that an environmentally sound, secure and affordable energy supply is
becoming the decisive issue of this century. Why is this so?


         - Anthropogenic climate change is advancing at a much more
              rapid pace and is having a much greater impact than
              previously assumed. Today we can only guess at the
              consequences, but they will be immense: as much for the
              Nile Delta as for the water crisis in the Middle East or for
              European agriculture. Since the Stern Report, if not before,
              we have known that non-action will be more expensive than
              action. The longer we wait and watch, the greater will be the
              damage. That is why over the next 10 to 15 years we all
              have to put our strength into changing direction.


         - Greater climate protection means higher costs which mean a
              depressed economy - this is the generally accepted view.
              Wrong! In the long term the expansion of renewable

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            energies and greater efforts to achieve energy saving and
            efficiency pay off. In Germany we have established a strong
            economic sector. With over 200,000 jobs and an annual
            turnover of over 21 billion euro, renewables have long been a
            driving force for the economy and for business activity.


         - Climate protection and energy security are therefore
            economic issues, but also geopolitical and security issues.


         - At present, energy-related conflicts, for example in the
            Middle East, but also in Eastern Europe, are becoming even
            more tense. Access to resources is being secured not only
            through political but also through military means and exertion
            of influence.


What are the consequences of this development? Should we walk into
this climate and energy disaster with our eyes wide open? Should dykes
be built higher and coastal towns moved inland, wars waged over energy
supply? No, ladies and gentlemen, that cannot be the answer.


Ladies and Gentlemen,


We, the European Union and our southern and eastern neighbours have
to lay the foundations now for an alternative energy future that is
climate friendly and ensures a secure energy supply. Our energy supply,
which is largely based on fossil energies and supply from inefficient large
power plants, is like a big, cumbersome tanker. We have to sail this

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tanker on a new course. To some extent we may even have to abandon
the tanker and embark on a new fleet of smaller ships that are more
versatile and easier to steer.


Ladies and Gentlemen,


The Energy Action Plan adopted by the EU heads of state and
government in March clearly showed that there is now the political will
for such a change of course. In Europe we have committed to reducing
our greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020 as our contribution to an
international agreement, and by at least 20% in any event. We have also
adopted a binding target of a 20% share of renewables and at least a
10% share of biofuels, and a 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020.
It is now a question of implementing these targets together with the
European Commission.


It is our experience that we first need the political will to set ambitious
targets and then political instruments to implement them:
        · Especially feed-in laws have led to a boom for renewable
           energies in Germany, Denmark and Spain. With the Feed-In
           Cooperation we created a platform for further exchange of
           experience. I would like to invite all interested countries to
           take part.


This conference is highly significant. More than 25 environment and
energy ministers and state secretaries of the EU and neighbouring
countries have come together for the first time. I am therefore delighted

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that the organisers ­ my ministry, the Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and Development and the KfW ­ succeeded in arranging
this high-level meeting. An important topic will be discussed: the future
role of renewable energies and energy efficiency in Europe's
neighbourhood policy.


I believe that we must keep reminding ourselves of the potential which
renewables hold for a future-oriented, sustainable energy supply
      · for climate and environmental protection,
      · for economic development and technological innovation,
      · for security of supply: a major risk lies in the growing
         dependence on energy imports. As is well known, not only the
         EU but also numerous neighbouring countries are dependent on
         imports. As early as 2020 the EU might depend on imports for
         70% of its energy. Renewables reduce this dependence.


The expansion of renewables must take place in the three sectors
electricity, heat/cooling and transport. In the electricity sector major
progress has been achieved in recent years, especially with regard to
wind energy and biomass. There is enormous and to a large extent still
untapped potential in solar power. Studies on potential by the German
Aerospace Center find that solar thermal power plants in southern
Europe and northern Africa could play an important role in securing a
sustainable European energy supply. I am very pleased about the power
plant projects in Morocco, Algeria and Egypt, and about the planned
projects in Libya and Jordan.



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Ladies and Gentlemen,


The idea is ground-breaking: it means that in 20 to 30 years we can
procure part of our energy from solar power plants.
To this end we need stronger regional cooperation and an investment
boost in the expansion of a stable electricity grid. All this is already
technically feasible. The electricity grid of the future will overcome
borders and even the Mediterranean. One day, the European "super
grid" will be able to transfer electricity produced in solar thermal power
plants to central Europe ­ without any power cuts!
European neighbourhood policy should support these investments to the
same extent as the expansion of oil and gas pipelines.


I am delighted at the growing interest of the Arab states, and have
therefore gladly accepted the invitation of the Syrian government to take
part in the 4th Middle East and North Africa Renewable Energy
Conference ­ MENAREC 4 - in Damascus from 21 to 23 June 2007.
Another area of interest, especially with regard to cooperation with our
eastern neighbours, is biofuels: the adopted EU target of at least 10%
by 2020 will give development a further major boost. But we need
solutions which are not only secure in terms of energy, they must also
be ecologically sustainable. For this reason, we must swiftly elaborate
environmental and sustainability criteria and develop a corresponding
certification scheme for bioenergies.


There is further major need for action in the use of heat and cooling
from renewables. This is the sleeping giant among renewables. In

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Germany we will go on the offensive before the end of this year with a
heat act.


Ladies and Gentlemen,


The second pillar of a sustainable energy policy is increasing energy
efficiency, both on the supply and especially also on the demand side in
energy consumption. By doing this we will make our tanker lighter and
easier to manoeuvre. If we want to cover more than 20% of EU-wide
electricity consumption in 2020 with renewable energies, this is an
important step - but more than three quarters still remain, that we must
produce as "cleanly" as possible from fossil energies. Of most value,
however, is the energy saved, because it does not have to be produced
in the first place. For this reason, efficiency and renewable energies are
intrinsically linked.


   - Alongside renewable energies, we need investments in modern,
      highly efficient gas and coal power plants, whereby carbon capture
      and storage can also be an important option for climate protection.
   - Combined heat and power (CHP) has a particular role to play, since
      in conventional power plants most energy is expelled in the form of
      heat: instead of heating the surroundings, let us heat flats and
      greenhouses, or use the heat for industrial processes. Let us get
      the most out of every tonne of coal, every barrel of oil, every cubic
      metre of gas.
   - The building sector has a particularly high energy saving potential.
      In some cases, better thermal insulation and efficient heating

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      systems can save up to 90% of energy. A sensible use of
      renewable energies can enable us to abandon fossil fuels
      altogether.
   - There is also considerable potential in the saving of electricity, e.g.
      through the use of high efficiency drives or the avoidance of
      unnecessary losses from standby mode. Strict consumption
      labelling enables consumers to make energy-aware purchasing
      decisions.


Now that we know which course to take, we must ask the vital question:
who can master this Herculean task?




The answer is: there is no Hercules and therefore we must all work on
this challenge together. Each sector has a role to play:


      · Policy-makers must create market economy-based framework
         conditions which promote innovation. Subsidies for fossil fuels
         impede the competitiveness of renewables and encourage users
         to waste energy.
      · Suitable framework conditions will automatically generate
         technology transfer and investment in competitive products and
         services. This will also propagate research and development of
         adapted technologies and procedures.
      · In addition, we are providing a range of innovative financing
         instruments. Germany is already actively contributing to this.
         The BMU is participating with 24 million euro in the Global

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          Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF), set up
          by the European Commission. The fund, as a risk capital
          security, aims to promote private investments in developing and
          newly industrialising countries.


At the Spring Summit, the European heads of state and government
showed us the necessary political will for a new direction in energy
policy. Today I call on all energy and environment ministers of the
member states and neighbouring countries, to demonstrate their focus
and foresight in using this momentum to accept and support ambitious
agreements also in Europe's neighbourhood policy.


We are dealing here with the vital question of how to structure our
future.


I would like to wish this conference every success. I trust that it will
produce robust, landmark recommendations for the future European
neighbourhood policy. I hope that the momentum and determination
reflected in the EU targets will be taken up by the neighbourhood policy
and that perhaps some of our neighbours will join us in our goals.


Thank you for your attention.




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