Energy policy indicators for the assessment of the Euro-Mediterranean energy cooperation

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership was initiated in 1995 and is highly motivated by the mutual interests that both parties have. The Mediterranean countries involved see it as a vehicle to associate themselves with their partner in the north and secure technical assistance provision for the development of their energy sector, while for EU the process is expected to create a favourable and stable climate for energy investments and to secure access to the energy sources available in the region. The energy cooperation is directed by the three common energy policy objectives, namely security of supply, competitiveness of the energy industry and environmental protection. The paper discusses the challenges derived from this cooperation and presents the level of achievement of the energy policy objectives adopted. A set of energy policy indicators have been developed in order to provide a quantitative assessment of the status of the above objectives. The use of these indicators is expected to provide an impetus for the identification of policy actions and guidelines for the achievement of the objectives of the partnership.