The European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) cordially invites you to the third of a series of six roundtable discussions on European energy security topics co-hosted by the European Commission Representation in the UK and Konrad Adenauer Foundation in London

EUcers Energy Talks:

EU Climate Policy – Priority or Backseat

17 April 2012, 13.00 – 15.00 (with a reception following)

Seminar Room K 0.20 (ground floor King’s Building), King’s College London Strand Campus, London WC2R 2LS

We would like to cordially invite you to a workshop the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) organizes together with the European Commission Representation in the UK and Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in London.

Paolo Caridi, DG Climate, International and Inter-institutional Relations, European Commission and Dr Benny Peiser, Director Global Warming Policy Foundation will give the introductory statements before we embark on a roundtable discussion. A reception from 15.00 will follow.

We would like to invite you to join and contribute to the discussion at King’s College London on 17 April 2012 and to profit from your insight and expertise in the subject.

In order to attend please register to carola.gegenbauer@kcl.ac.uk or reply to this email.

We are looking forward to welcome you here at King’s College London!

EUCERS together with the War Studies Russian & Eurasian Security Research Group and The European Azerbaijan Society organised a half-day seminar discussing topical issues related to Central Asia (click here for the agenda).

As US troops prepare to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014, Central Asia faces serious challenges related to security, terrorism, drugs and energy supplies.

Washington has already drawn up a New Silk Road vision that aims to address those problems by helping regional states to engage through private sector investments.

Similar initiatives are being pursued by the UK and the UN which are increasingly recognising Central Asia’s pivotal role in a region that is also witnessing the rise of China, India and Russia.

The seminar organised by the three groups on 15 March brought together members of the academia, high-profile speakers from the Azerbaijani Embassy in London, the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) who addressed exactly those issues.

Professor Roland Dannreuther head of the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Westminster and co-author of the book China, Oil and Global Politics, assessed Beijing’s ascending influence in the region.

He pointed out that China had an interest in Central Asia not only thanks to the vast oil and gas reserves held by countries such as Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, but also because of these states’ strong relations with Xinjiang, its northwestern region that has often witnessed unrest and breakaway tendencies.

Dr Anna Matveeva, an independent consultant specialising in countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, analysed lingering interests in the region which it continues to see as its own hinterland.

Mr Murad Ismaiylov, editor of the “Azerbaijan in the World Review” spoke about the role of energy in nation building, while Nasrine Amzour, senior policy advisor at DECC reiterated Britain’s interest in the region especially through pipeline projects such as the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), a joint Azeri-Turkish pipeline that aims to carry 16 billion cubic metres of natural gas from the Caspian to the Turkish-Bulgarian border as well as Nabucco West and the BP-spearheaded South East European Pipeline. The latter two aim to join TANAP and ship natural gas to the Austrian Baumgarten hub.

The seminar was concluded by Dr Ramon Pacheco-Pardo, lecturer in International Studies at King’s College London who did a presentation on the links between Central Asian states and their neighbours in East Asia, particularly Japan, China and South Korea.

The two seminar sessions were moderated by Dr Natasha Kuhrt, co-convener of the War Studies Russian & Eurasian Security Research Group and Dr Petra Dolata-Kreutzkamp, EUCERS director of research.

A lunch was served under the auspices of The European Azerbaijan Society.

The School of Law and European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS),

King’s College London cordially invite you to the King’s Lecture in Ethics

THE OIL CURSE

How Petroleum Wealth Shapes the Development of Nations

PROF. MICHAEL L. ROSS

MONDAY, 19 MARCH 2012

18.00 ♦ SAFRA LECTURE THEATRE ♦ KING’S COLLEGE LONDON, STRAND CAMPUS, LONDON WC2R 2LS

THIS LECTURE IS FREE, UNTICKETED, AND OPEN TO ALL

Oil-rich countries are 50 percent more likely to be ruled by autocrats—and twice as likely to descend into civil war. Oil wealth often creates less growth than it should, and jobs for men but not women. What explains this oil curse?

Michael L. Ross’s groundbreaking analysis looks at why good geology often leads to bad governance, and how developing nations can turn oil from a curse into a blessing.

“The best examination that we have. Oil revenues are massive, opaque, and volatile; they destroy the relationship between a state and its own citizens. Ross substantiates some of the common assertions about oil wealth, finds that others are incorrect, and offers some surprising discoveries.”

- Stephen Krasner, Stanford University

“Timely insight into a key global phenomenon. Will oil drive transformation or cause a repeat of the history of plunder? Ross presents new research in an accessible style. Understanding is the foundation for change.”

- Paul Collier, author of The Bottom Billion

The War Studies Russian and Eurasian Security Research Group and European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS), King’s College London in cooperation with The European-Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) cordially invite you to

BRIDGE OR BARRIER? The Role of Central Asia in 21st Century International Politics

15 MARCH 2012, 12-17.00 ♦ Room 6.07 ♦ 6th floor ♦ King’s College London, Strand Campus, London WC2R 2LS

With an opening note by his Excellency Mr Fakhraddin Gurbanov,Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the UK

The War Studies Russian and Eurasian Security Research Group together with the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) warmly invite you to a seminar discussing the opportunities and challenges facing energy-rich countries stretching from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan in the new regional dynamics dominated by China and Russia.

The event is organised in cooperation with The European-Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) and will ask to what extent Central Asia can be a bridge or a barrier between Europe, Russia and China. High-profile speakers with a background in energy and publishing together with scholars from London’s universities will discuss the importance of energy in shaping up the region’s foreign policy as well as in state building and the relationship between economics and security.

A light lunch will be served from 12.00 onwards under the auspices of The European-Azerbaijan Society (TEAS).

Organisation by Aura Sabadus and Carola Gegenbauer, to attend please register by sending an email to carola.gegenbauer@kcl.ac.uk or call 020 7848 1912

On 18 January 2012 the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) together with the EU Commission Representation in the UK and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in London welcomed tot he 2nd EUcers Energy Roundtable on „EU Energy Policy: Engaging with Partners beyond our Borders“. (Please click here for the programme)

Dr Michael Köhler, Head of Cabinet Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Günther H. Oettinger at the European Commission and Dr Louis Skyner, Commercial Manager at Statoil ASA in Russia held the introductory statements before we embarked on adiscussion, introduced by Iulian Chifu, Associate Professor at the Bucharest National School of Political and Administrative Studies and Advisor to the Romanian President on Strategic Affairs, Security and Foreign Policy.

After a welcome by Professor Dr Friedbert Pflüger, Director of EUCERS and Claudia Crawford, Director KAS in London, Michael Köhler gave a speech on the external dimension of EU energy policy. The European Commission adopted a communication on security of energy supply and international cooperation in September 2011 to support common EU action in energy relations. The EU is to speak with one voice in energy relations with countries outside the EU rather than maintaining bi-lateral agreements and actions. Michael Köhler also briefed us on the internal coordination mechanisms to be implemented to ensure coordinated actions of the member states in energy relations.

Louis Skyner then gave us an insight in Russian energy politics. Louis began with setting the scene with an analysis of dependency of the Russian economy on oil and gas export revenues and Russia’s exposure to global energy market developments. He then focused on EU-Russia relations and the initiatives taken.

Iulian Chifu introduced the discussion with the approximately 60 participants, including industry experts, academics and diplomacy, with a 5-minute intervention giving us a Romanian perspective on EU external energy relations.

After the discussion Louis Skyner and Iulian Chifu also participated in a recording for the departmental podcast, which can be found here.

On 12 December 2011 the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) together with the Central Europe Energy Partners (CEEP) and in cooperation with the Atlantic Council of the US hold an event in Berlin to present two new studies on the Future of Clean Coal Technologies and CCS.

The presentation in Berlin was the follow-up event in September, where Frank Umbach of EUCERS and Pamela Tomski of the Atlantic Council presented their draft studies for the first time and we welcomed amongst others James F. Wood from the U.S. Department of Energy, Milton Catelin the CEO of the World Coal Association, John McElroy of RWE npower, Joan MacNaughton of Alstom, Marcin Bodio of CEEP and more experts from the industry, academics and politics.

The event this Monday, 12 December 2o11 was introduces by Tobias Kempermann the head of EWE representation in Berlin as well as Friedbert Pflüger (Director EUCERS), Pawel Olechnowiz (Chairman CEEP) and John Lyman (Director Energy at Atlantic Council). We welcomed EU Commissioner Oettinger and Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economy in Poland, Professor Maciej Kaliski at the EWE Offices near the Brandeburg Gate in Berlin.

Please click here for the Commissioner’s speech!

Following the keynotes Frank Umbach presented the EUCERS/CEEP study and Pamela Tomski presented the Atlantic Council Study:

Please click here for the EUCERS/CEEP study

Please click here for the Atlantic Council study

Afterwards there was time for discussion, before everyone left the EWE offices with their fantastic view on the Brandenburg Gate and Quadriga.

This will be the last event of EUCERS in 2011 and we would like to wish all EUCERS friends and supporters happy holidays and a good start in the New Year 2012!

EUcers Energy Talks – The Future of Renewables in Britain and Europe

On 17. November 2011 the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) together with the European Commission Representation in the UK and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in London organised the first EUcers Energy Talk on the “Future of Renewables in Britain and Europe”..

Dr Stefan Tostmann, Head Financial Resources DG Energy, European Commission gave a European perspective on the development of the renewable energy market in Europe (please click here for Tostmann’s presentation). Tostmann, the former Head of Energy Technologies in the European Commission gave a comprehensive outlook on the situation in Europe and the initiative by the Commission, with special focus on the Roadmap 2050.

Professor Paul Ekins, Professor of Energy and Environmental Policy at UCL gave us afterwards an insightful overview on the development of renewable energy in Britain. His main argument was the dependency of progress and form in renewable energy on policy. The three main influences in the UK renewable sector are according to Ekins the EU renewable target to be met, the Climate Change Act and the discussion on Energy Security.

An intervention by Stephen Tindale, Associate Fellow, Centre for European Reform followed the introductory statements and opened the roundtable discussion.

The workshop was followed by a light lunch in the River Room at the Strand Campus of King’s College London.

Dear friends of EUCERS,

We would like to cordially invite you to a workshop the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) is organising together with the European Commission Representation in the UK and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in London on the “Future of Renewables in Britain and Europe”.

Dr Stefan Tostmann, Head Financial Resources DG Energy, European Commission and Professor Paul Ekins, Professor of Energy and Environmental Policy at UCL will give the introductory statements before we embark on a
roundtable discussion. The workshop is followed by a reception with a light lunch (from 15.00 onwards).

In order to attend please reply to carola.gegenbauer@kcl.ac.uk or call 020 7848 1912.

We are looking forward to welcome you at King’s College London!

Best regards,

Friedbert Pflüger (Director, European Centre for Energy and Resource Security),

Jonathan Scheele (Head of Representation, European Commission Representation in the UK)

Claudia Crawford (Director, London Office, Konrad Adenauer Foundation)

EUCERS together with the Centre for European Reform organised a panel discussion on the Future of EU Energy Policy on Thursday, 27 October (please click here for the programme of the day).

The workshop celebrated the launch of a report – “Green, Safe, Cheap: Where next for EU energy policy?” written by EU commissioners Günther Oettinger and Connie Hedegaard together with ten European experts.

The keynote speech delivered by Charles Hendry MP, Minister of State at the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change was preceded by a welcome address by Professor Friedbert Pflüger, director of EUCERS.

Katinka Barysch, deputy director of CER and editor of the study also addressed the audience ahead of a panel discussion steered by Frank Umbach, associate director of EUCERS, Stephen Tindale, associate fellow at CER and Nick Mabey, chief executive and founder director of E3G – Third Generation Environmentalism.

The study proposes to answer a number of topical questions: “Will Europe have to fight for its energy with emerging power such as China?”, “Should the EU get involved in building cross-border gas and power lines?”, “Do we need a European policy on nuclear policy?”

While all these questions are highly relevant and preoccupy policy-makers in Brussels, they are also complex and cannot disregard the EU’s long-term goals of creating unitary trans-European electricity and gas markets which could offer cheap, competitive, secure and green energy.

In the introductory chapter, Katinka Barysch points out that while European officials like to argue that the EU’s multiple energy policy objectives are compatible, there are arguments which show that the single EU energy market is necessary but not sufficient to meet the Union’s energy policy objectives.

These arguments are highlighted in the report’s 10 chapters where experts ask whether the EU’s renewable policy is not “unnecessarily expensive” and even undermine the single market, whether EU support for selected pipelines and power lines could distort market signals and finally whether the EU’s gas policy focuses too much on the “Russia threat”.

The study points out that the EU is increasingly aware that the market liberalisation project is not sufficient to ensure the security of energy supply and that new rules have to be adopted to force member states to invest in new pipelines and storage facilities.

It also stresses the fact that the EU has little time to sort out complex issues such as the reduction of carbon emissions. Brussels is yet to produce new and ambitious targets beyond 2020 – the date when member states should have reduced emissions by 20% and ensure that 20% of their energy generation comes from green sources.

Finally, the study asks whether the sizeable investments needed to ensure a low-carbon and energy secure economy would not be outweighed by slimmer local initiatives that would take in consideration individual needs.

The authors conclude that Brussels faces the pressing need to formulate a more coherent, long-term European energy strategy.

The study was published by the Centre for European Reform, London and was sponsored by BG Group and Bayer. It costs £10 or €16.

The European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) and the Centre for European Reform (CER) are delighted to welcome you to a panel discussion with

Charles Hendry MP

to discuss the new CER report on:

The future of EU energy policy

27 October 2011, 14.30 for 15.00 – 17.00

King’s College London, Maughan Library, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1LR

We would like to invite you to discuss a new CER report on European energy policy. A dozen of Europe’s leading energy experts, as well as Commissioners Günther Oettinger and Connie Hedegaard, have contributed their insights, views and recommendations on issues ranging from renewables policy to infrastructure.

Charles Hendry MP, Minister of State at the Department of Energy and Climate will give the keynote address. This will be followed by a panel discussion that also includes Frank Umbach (Associate Director, EUCERS), Stephen Tindale (Associate Fellow, CER) and Nick Mabey (CEO of E3G) who have all contributed to the report. Professor Dr Friedbert Pflüger ( Director, EUCERS) will moderate the debate.

In order to attend please register with Carola Gegenbauer on carola.gegenbauer@kcl.ac.uk or call 020 7848 1912

We would like to thank BG Group and Bayer MaterialScience for supporting this project.

Friedbert Pflüger (Director EUCERS) and Katinka Barysch (Deputy Director CER)