The official opening session of the Second High-Level Meeting of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) took place on Wednesday morning, with welcome speeches by: Aboubakari Baba Moussa, Director of Infrastructure and Energy Department, AUC, for the AEEP African Co-Chair; Franz Marré, Head of Division, Water, Energy, Urban Development, Geosciences Sector, Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, on behalf of the European Co-Chair, Germany; Ambassador Gary Quince, Head of Delegation of the European Union to the African Union; and H.E. Elham Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, AUC.

Participants then convened in a plenary session titled “The Road from 2010 to 2014: Developments of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership.” The session reviewed the origins and history of the AEEP and highlighted key milestones in the partnership so far, including the convening of Stakeholder Consultations and implementation of the Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme (RECP). The session concluded with a presentation and discussion of the AEEP Status Report on progress, achievements and future perspectives in achieving the AEEP 2020 Targets.

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In the afternoon, participants met in plenary for a thematic panel discussion titled “Chicken and Egg?”: Enabling Environment and Energy Investment Projects.” Thereafter, participants convened in three parallel sessions addressing: energy access; energy security and regional integration; and financing renewable energy projects.

In the evening delegates attended a gala dinner organized by the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Ethiopia.

On Thursday, delegates will continue their deliberations during the high-level segment of the meeting, which will feature keynote addresses and panel discussions with energy ministers and heads of key stakeholder institutions.

Read more about day 3

Summary and pictures are provided by IISD Reporting Services.
For full summary and more pictures, please check the IISD website.