"The North Sea will be the largest green energy center in the world."
This was announced by Belgian premier Alexander De Croo, who hosted the Ostend summit, at the end of which the 9 participants - Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom - signed a declaration joint.
"In response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine and energy blackmail attempts against the EU, we will accelerate efforts to reduce fossil fuel consumption and import dependency, we will promote renewables" and "we will ensure the resilience of the 'offshore infrastructure'.
EU, 'strong security measures are needed in the North Sea'
"The stakes" in the North Sea "have become higher" due to the war in Ukraine, with the need for "strong measures to strengthen the security of the energy infrastructure of the EU".
So the EU Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, at the end of the North Sea summit in Ostend.
A year ago, at the first area summit, the "message" was that "offshore renewable energies must become one of the key pillars of our future energy independence" and now "we must continue our efforts", i.e. "promote energy saving , accelerate on renewables and start replenishing gas stocks".
EU cuts energy dependence on Moscow in one year
"It was the year of a severe energy crisis triggered by Russia's war, but together we managed to get rid of our dependence on Russian fossil fuels and diversified away from Russia by turning to reliable partners."
This was stated by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in a press conference at the end of the North Sea summit in Ostend.
"EU citizens have reduced their energy consumption by 20%, but the most important thing is that we have massively invested in renewable energies", she highlighted.
"The EU Commission will contribute to achieving the Ostend objectives" through "a simpler regulatory framework with our Net Zero industry law,
Von der Leyen, 'wind power will lead us to climate neutrality'
"I am happy to be in Ostend for the 'North Sea Summit'. Today Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Luxembourg, France, Ireland, Norway and Great Britain will double their goals last year in Esbjerg for offshore wind power generation. We need this ambition. It will give us all the wind we need in our sails as we move towards climate neutrality."
The president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen writes it in a tweet.
Scholz, 'protecting the EU off-shore industry from Russia'
In the face of threats from Moscow, "we must effectively protect our off-shore industry" and its infrastructures "as neighboring countries", and "the EU and NATO play an important role".
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this at the end of the North Sea summit in Ostend.
"The last few months have shown that in Europe it is essential to work closely together on energy issues" and "after the Russian invasion of Ukraine we had to make ourselves independent of Moscow's energy power, which we managed to do with the support of friends and neighbors", highlighted the chancellor.
The North Sea "can become a place to generate a lot of energy" and represent "a great interconnected hub beyond national borders," Scholz said.
"Here you can produce offshore wind and clean hydrogen", underlined Scholz, indicating that "in a very short time the North Sea will be a much more important place for energy production than it already is today".
With today's meeting, the leaders of the 9 countries in the region have "the opportunity to make progress", added the chancellor.
Bettel, 'nuclear power is not safe, I support renewables'
"Everything related to nuclear power is not safe, it is not durable, and one does not know what to do with waste, disposal takes many years. I support any project that shows that there are alternatives to nuclear power".
This was stated by the premier of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, answering a question about support for the atom upon his arrival at the summit of the North Sea countries in the Belgian port city of Ostend.
"Anything that's renewable is safe," he added.
