Since its establishment in 2007 and with the continuous support of the European Union (EU), MEDREG has been working to develop a common regulatory culture and foster progressive energy market integration in the Mediterranean region. Building on 10 years of successful cooperation amongst its members, MEDREG has defined new activities for the two-year period 2018-2019, enshrined in a new grant contract recently endorsed by the European Commission.

The new action plan foresees activities aimed at stimulating regional integration, improving conditions for infrastructure investment, increasing efficiency of electricity and gas supply industries while promoting renewable energies, designing a common approach on consumer protection and enhancing regulatory capacity, skills and knowledge in the region. Emphasis will be put on the communication of the work performed and results achieved to members, external partners and the press.

Mr Michael Köhler, Director for Neighbourhood South at DG NEAR from the European Commission, stated: “The harmonization of legislative and regulatory energy frameworks represents a key priority of the EU’s energy neighbourhood policy. By renewing its partnership with MEDREG, the EU hopes to enhance the dialogue and cooperation in the Mediterranean in the energy sector, vital for the economy and households’ wellbeing, while contributing to tackle climate change.”

With a budget of over two million euros* for two years, the new EU contract will enable MEDREG to continue developing technical reports and guidelines of good practice, technical assistance, capacity building activities and peer review exercises. A framework has already been developed to support regulatory reforms, and the organisation will further assist its members, offering a mix of flexible, personalized and tailor made tools, adapted to the members’ needs such as information exchange, study visits and training for Regulators’ staff. For instance, MEDREG will assist the Algerian energy regulator CREG in developing a methodology for the estimation of prices for electricity generated from renewables (RES), and will conduct a peer review of the Jordanian energy regulator EMRC, assessing its electricity licensing procedures.

MEDREG, which benefits from the European Union’s financial support, brings together 25 regulators from 21 countries, spanning the European Union (EU), the Balkans and North Africa. Mediterranean regulators work together to promote greater harmonization of the regional energy markets and legislations, seeking progressive market integration in the Euro-Mediterranean basin. Through constant cooperation and information exchange among members, MEDREG aims at fostering consumer rights, energy efficiency, infrastructure investment and development, based on secure, safe, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable energy systems.

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Press Release

Mediterranean Energy Regulators (MedReg)