Discorso tenuto in occasione del Seminario "The Energy transition in Europe: different pathways, same destination? organizzato da Edison in collaborazione con WEC Italia il 29 maggio 2013 a Roma - TWITTER #NRGstrategy

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2. The energy transition in Europe: different pathways same destination? Rome, May 29, 2013
3. Energy security
This leads me to the last core point: are we delivering on energy security?
It seems to me that most policy makers are extremely worried. On the electricity side, system adequacy
stepped up on national political agendas and it clearly appears that actions are needed to readdress the
current divestment trends in many markets and to cope with the integration of Renewables ensuring stability
to the electricity system.
If we look to gas, we understand that in all projections it will remain a key component of the European energy
mix, but policies remain sometimes conflicting. In our view, “Gas Europe” is well divided into two main
playgrounds:
i. The “old Europe” that is now well fairly well diversified and struggles for competitiveness of supplies.
Figures tell us that we cannot hope to deliver on a stable and secure supply without relying on existing
pipeline suppliers, but when it comes to diversification, LNG is now offering at the same time an opportunity
and a significant benchmark: new gas import projects, including those prioritized by the Italian Energy
Strategy, will have to match a more flexible, more liquid, more competitive outset of the gas industry, where
the interests of producers and consumers will be more balanced;
ii. “new Europe”, and the Blakans (and let me say our neighboring southern Mediterranean rim) have
a very different situation. They ought to be improved in their energy security by new routes, new supplies
and better interconnection. This can only truly happen by achieving cross—border and regional cooperation,
and I am particularly happy that we could gather in this room some key players of this endeavor such as the
Energy Charter Treaty, the Energy Community of South East Europe, and the Observatoire Mediterraneen
de l’Energie, which I was given the honor to chair.
When we address energy security we cannot refrain from looking at the US lesson. We shall not fear to take
up the challenge of domestic energy investments. Europe, and Italy! Is full of domestic conventional
resources for which we boast competencies, technologies and one of the most stringent regulation
worldwide. Availability of domestic gas is not only a component of energy security, it is also a key requisite
for a sustainable mid-term energy strategy. All this cannot be waived out, based on fear, ideology, prejudice,
and I pledge the Italian National Energy Strategy well-grounded reasoning on that issue.
Still, a last core question should be whether we are or not going in the right direction. Let me say, that I
believe that the only right direction would be to gain a fundamental and common understanding of the
Energy Transition issue and of its trans-boundary nature.
I am happy and honored that distinguished colleagues from Italy, Germany, UK and my own France can now
provide us with their perspective and that our colleagues from Brussels can help us in understanding which
keywords should be required for these national policies to become truly convergent and draw the case for
building a truly European energy policy.
This is the next big challenge, which will face soon important decisions regarding Market Integration,
reshaping of Renewable policies and Climate Change.
None of these goals can be discussed, pursued, achieved at a national level alone, and I therefore believe
that gathering all sorts of experiences, ideas, and food for thought from across all national borders is the only
way to go.
I am eager to follow the debate and to discuss with our guests on their views for our common energy future.
Thank you. Grazie
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