The North Sea region includes some of the most advanced European economies and interconnected and mature energy markets in Europe, including the UK, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. It has the most diversified energy supply of the continent, thanks to its geographical position, domestic resources, and flexible infrastructure. However, with the region’s fossil fuel production on a downward trend and a deep transformation of the energy system ongoing in the light of the energy transition, considerable investment and policy challenges lie ahead.

Under the Energy Union framework, the countries of the North Sea region have the opportunity to maintain and develop their potential to provide technological leadership and competitive, clean and secure energy supply, provided that they can adopt a forward-looking coordination addressing policy and regulatory risks. This Policy Dialogue sought to promote discussion on the energy prospects of the North Sea region and explore the policy requirements to unleash the North Sea’s potential to contribute to the EU’s Energy Union objectives.

Speakers included: Marco Giuli, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre, Catharina Sikow-Magny, Head of Unit for Networks and Regional Initiatives, DG Energy, European Commission, Jannik Lindbæk Jr, Vice President, Head of EU Affairs Office, Statoil, Kees Van Der Leun, Director, Ecofys, Magnus Engelbrektsson, Executive Secretary, North Sea Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions