CONCLUSIONS AND CLOSING REMARKS 

CLOSING address  -  MIGUEL SEBASTIAN

“ Europe needs a single energy market,  with proper integration of national markets both in the physical sense and on the regulatory side,  where production and consumption can be performed with full security in different countries,”  Miguel Sebastian,  the Spanish Minister for Industry,  told the audience in his closing remarks to the Conference.   Mr Sebastian stressed the importance of a sustainable energy supply as one of the pivots of the entire society and at the same time potentially a major point of vulnerability for any country.

The Minister underlined the structural changes that have taken place in the energy markets this century and argued that we may never see a return to the low energy prices of yesteryear.  He stressed the commitment of the Spanish government to integrating markets – evidenced by the recent creation of the Iberian MIBEL and the planned expansion of electricity interconnection with France – and also its drive for sustainable practices and its determination to make full use of alternative,  renewable indigenous energy sources, mainly windpower  –  in which Spain is number two in Europe and number three in the world  -  but also solar technology and biofuels.

Governments and politicians alone cannot drive forward energy policy,  however.  They need the engagement of the energy producers,  who must be able to make a reasonable return on their business,  he told the audience.  At any stage on the long road to an integrated European market,  priorities may differ between countries or between policymakers and business.  But with goodwill and dialogue -  such as evidenced at the EURELECTRIC Conference  –  it should always be possible to reach a convenient arrangement that suits the aims of all concerned.  “And we need to search for that compromise together,”  concluded the Minister.

Concluding speech  -  LARS JOSEFSSON

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"We have confirmed once again our belief that properly-functioning markets, in which customers have a real choice,  are the best way to deliver a secure supply of energy to business and society in a sustainable manner,” Lars Josefsson, the new EURELECTRIC President,  reminded the delegates at the closing session of the Annual Conference.  Mr Josefsson enumerated some of the key points discussed during the two intensive days in Barcelona and underlined his conviction that  “when electricity is clean – emission-free – and the market works,  electricity is most definitely a solution”  to the many energy challenges facing the European Union – and the wider world.

“Today the electricity industry is in the political spotlight and our image is not as positive as it could – and should – be,”  he said,  adding:  “But we must learn how to use the attention we are receiving in a constructive way.  With the right policy framework and incentives,  our industry can place itself at the forefront of a new energy-and-environment-responsible society and it is the goal of my presidency of EURELECTRIC to place our industry on this path,”  he vowed.

Mr Josefsson reaffirmed the importance of industry cooperation through EURELECTRIC and of the Annual Convention,  “which brings together leaders from our industry,  energy policy experts, stakeholders and policymakers is to provide a forum to work through the important issues and send a clear signal about what we can do, and what others must contribute to the process of building the energy-and-environment-responsible society.”

Before closing,  the new President complimented the hosts – Endesa and the Spanish association UNESA – on their organisation of the 2008 conference,  adding special thanks to sponsors Accenture,  for the role they continue to play in making these annual events a success.

Finally,  Mr Josefsson invited all present to mark their diaries with the date of the next Annual Conference - 15 and 16 June 2009 - and to join him then in the Romanian capital Bucharest.