Libya Workshop May, 14 2008 at Tripoli, Libya

1. Report on the Preparatory Workshop on the Start up of MCREEE Operations
(Held in Tripoli, Libya on the May 14, 2008)
The previous workshop on the establishment of the Middle East and North Africa Centre
for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (MCREEE), held in Cairo on the January
29 and 30, 2008, had already reached the following conclusions:
• Issuing of Cairo Declaration. (see attachment 1).
• Organization of two task forces to provide recommendations on, respectively:-
#The legal status and the organizational form of MCREEE.
#MCREEE’s work plan for the first two years of operation; focusing on the
selection of three activities for “immediate” implementation.
• Organizing a preparatory workshop, to be hosted in Libya, to present and discuss
the outcome of the work of the two above mentioned task forces.
• The task force that prepared the Cairo workshop composed of representatives
from Egypt, Germany, Denmark and European Commission (EC) should continue
acting as the centre’s interim secretariat until the formal creation of the Centre,
scheduled in Cairo on 25 of June 2008.
On the invitation of the Government of Libya, on the May 14, 2008 a second preparatory
workshop was held in Tripoli, Libya. The workshop was attended by representatives of
six MENA countries: Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Egypt as well as
representatives from the development partners Denmark, EU, Germany. Four MENA
countries (Morocco, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan) did not attend due to previous
official arrangements. The German Ambassador to Libya and representatives of the
German, Danish and EU governments participated in the opening session together with
the executive director of the Libyan Renewable Energy Authority as the representatives
of the hosting country. (see attachment 2 – Name list)

2. After a productive discussion the well organised workshop concluded as follows:
I – CONCERNING MCREEE’s WORKPLAN
• Mr. Mostert, the consultant assigned for this work stream, reported on the result
of the consultations carried out with all member countries of the Centre. The
consultations had the objective to develop a work plan for MCREEE in common
agreement, in particular:
(1) To raise the degree of awareness and assure the participation of all member
countries in the identification of the centre’s intended projects.
(2) To establish a prioritized list of projects for MCREEE’s Action Plan for the first two
years of operation, which the Board and Steering Committee could use for
guidance
(3) To select three activities for “immediate implementation”, one activity for each of
the three main subject areas of MCREEE (policies and strategies, R&D and
technology transfer, PPPs).
• All member states had completed the first questionnaire containing the list of
projects proposed by the feasibility study for MCREEE, which was discussed at
the Cairo workshop. However, only four member states had completed the
questionnaire containing the additional project proposals submitted by members
in response to the round 1 questionnaire. As this specific task is not yet
completed, the consultant will contact with members who have not yet responded
to complete the questionnaire.
• The delegates at the conference were asked from the total list of project
proposals (round 1 + round 2) to select six projects for “immediate
implementation” (discussions had shown great differences of opinion; since
enough funds are available on the budget for MCREEE this year, the list of
projects was expanded from three to six). The following proposals were
approved by majority voting for the start up of MCREEE’s operations, taking into
consideration that the other project proposals will remain on the list for the first
two years Action Plan. (see attachment 3).

3. A) Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Strategies & Policies Unit.
• Comparison of the regulatory framework for RE/EE, including the economic
evaluation of decentralised, small capacity renewable energy systems and of
large capacity, grid connected ones, in comparison with the traditional power
generation systems using fossil fuels resources.”
• Standardization of regulations for EE and their application
B) R & D and Technology Transfer Policies Unit:
• Establishing local capacities for manufacturing of solar water heaters, PV and
other EE products ; Opportunities of technology transfer and local manufacturing
of RE&EE components Identification of potentially promising Clusters and
Resource Areas for manufacturing of EE&RE and of Policies to develop these ;
Review of RE&EE Technology Cooperation of MENA Country Manufacturers with
non-MENA companies; Comparative Analysis of International Policies and
Strategies to create local Manufacturing of Wind-turbines and Wind Turbine
Components: China, Spain, India, Brazil.
• Solar thermal applications in buildings.
(C) Unit for PPPs and Capacity Building
• Benchmarking of solar water heater promotion programs in MENA against
programs in Spain, Greece and Israel ; Comparative Analysis of PPPs for RE &
EE applied in MENA-countries: Lessons learned
• Exchange of experience in the standardization, testing and certification of the
level of energy consumption of home appliances
In addition, the consultant was able to inform – in consultation with the EC-Commission
in Cairo that the EU-Commission was going to finance one more project for immediate
implementation:
“Training in how to prepare winning project proposals for tenders organized by the EU-
Commission”
• Finally, MCREEE and EU-Commission (through MED_REP and MED_ENEC)
were making one facility available for members to use: “short term TA from
experts, preferably joint MENA/EU consultant teams, policy assistance in
response to ad-hoc requests from member states.

4. II - CONCERNING THE LEGAL STATUS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE:
o The organizational structure, already presented at the Cairo workshop (Jan.
2008), was approved; it included the formation of a board of trustees, a board of
directors and a work team for the centre.
o With respect to the legal status, the representative of the legal consultancy firm
presented two proposals:
A) Establishment of a new inter- governmental organization :
• It will ensure the full independence of MCREEE’s policies and decisions,
and grant it the freedom of joining other organizations or cooperating with
them in the future.
• It would however require some time because each country has to accept
and approve this matter through its national legislative institutions and
diplomatic channels.
B) Joining an existing inter-governmental organization like “THE ARAB
LEAGUE”:
• It would be easier to provide the necessary privileged status to the
employees from the participating MENA - countries.
• The centre’s establishment under such organization will not require a long
time for the legislative procedures.
• The centre, however, could be subject to the rules and guidelines of the
Arab League (or whoever other hosting organization) what may curtail the
centre’s freedom.
o Dr. Claus, the consultant assigned for this work stream, pointed out that the legal
consultancy firm will evaluate the two above mentioned proposals and analyze
their positive/negative effects and finally propose what the best and most
suitable alternatives are.
o It has been agreed by all participating countries to formally sign the Cairo
declaration on June 25, 2008. It was left open either to each country nominating
its representative who will officially sign this declaration, be it a visiting
representative or the resident Ambassador of the member country in Cairo.

5. III. CONCERNING THE PROPOSAL OF ESTABLISHING AN INTERIM
SECRETARIAT FOR THE CENTER:
The Proposal of establishing an interim secretariat for the centre was presented.
o The proposed secretariat is to be composed of one representative from the
eastern states (Al - Mashrek) and another from the western states (Al- Maghreb),
in addition to one representative from the participating country (Germany,
Denmark, EU), and one representative from the host country (represented by the
Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Energy).
o The secretariat, in cooperation with the concerned parties, will administrate,
coordinate and follow-up the preparation works of MCREEE on internal
(preparatory and logistical) and regional matters. The proposed interim
secretariat would also perform any other tasks related to the centre, including all
the preparatory works needed to select the MCREEE's director, his deputies and
the work team at a later stage by the then legally appointed decision making
bodies..
o The secretary is expected to manage its work from the centre’s headquarters in
Cairo, starting from July 2008 and for a period of 6 months.
The above mentioned proposal was discussed and approved.
In order to select the personnel of the interim Secretariat without delay, a raffle was
organized to assign one Mashrek and one Maghreb country, from which an expert
should be assigned. Syria and Tunisia were drawn respectively. Within three weeks
the two countries will submit the CV’s of their representative members of the interim
secretary.
Next steps
1- On the basis of the selection of the themes for the MCREEE to immediately start
its activities, the consultant for the work program will prepare a detailed work plan
for the first two years of MCREEE's operation, taking into consideration choices
and priorities of all countries of the region as far as other activities are concerned,
2- With the approval of the proposed interim secretariat and the selection of Syria
and Tunisia these countries will send, within 3 weeks, the CV's of their candidates
as members of the interim secretary.
3- With the acceptance of signing Cairo declaration (issued during Cairo launching
workshop in January 2008), as an official commitment of all countries in the
region towards their participation in MCREEE's activities, the signing will take
place on June 25, in Cairo.