The American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Hellenic Association for Energy Economics, the Atlantic Council and the U.S Chamber of Commerce, is holding the Southeast Europe Energy Forum on Friday, September 11, 2020 at the MET Hotel in Thessaloniki, Greece. The Forum will be held in hybrid format on the day prior to the state address of Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the official opening of Thessaloniki Helexpo Forum that has replaced the 2020 Thessaloniki International Fair.

In today’s ever more competitive world, and with the growing need for more alternative resources, European energy policies can only be successful if the European Union works closely with all its partners around the world. In the same context, global geopolitical and market developments over the last years highlighted SE Europe countries as important players of EU energy strategy. EU energy policy is centered on three key objectives: security of supply, sustainability, and competitiveness. To reach these goals, the EU follows a strategy to create a resilient Energy Union with a forward-looking climate policy that requires more of regional cross-border approach. The integration and development of regional markets in the SE European countries is key to cost-efficient investments given that market integration will boost security of supply in the SE European countries and provide the right signals to investors.

On top of these, the East Med Act agreement created a solid frame of cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel with the support of the USA that will contribute further to energy diversification and independence of Europe.

The Southeast Europe Energy Forum will bring together key policy makers, thought leaders, regulators, top market players, financiers, academics and experts to present and discuss unique insights and observations on all up-to-date topics in the dynamic energy field in Greece and the wider SE European region.

Confirmed Speakers in alphabetical order:

KATE MARY BYRNES, U.S. Ambassador to North Macedonia
ANTHONY F. GODFREY, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia
KOSTIS HATZIDAKIS, Minister of Environment & Energy of Greece
Niculae HAVRILEȚ, Secretary of State, Coordinator of the Department for Energy, Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment of Romania
Cristina Lobillo, Energy Policy Director, European Commission
CALEB CHARLES McCARRY, Counselor to the CEO, International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
HERRO MUSTAFA, U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria
PAUL MYLONAS, CEO, National Bank of Greece
NASER NUREDINI, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia
GEOFFREY R. PYATT, U.S.Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic
ANDREAS SHIAMISHIS, CEO, Hellenic Petroleum

Among the topics to be presented and discussed are:

Geopolitical Considerations
Transatlantic Energy Relations
Financing energy Investments in the SE European Region
The new Energy Landscape in SE Europe
RES and their perspectives
Natural Gas Infrastructure Developments
The EU Green Deal & the implementation of the target model in SE EuropeUpstream Developments in SE Europe
Regional alliances and co-operations