North Sea Countries Talk Offshore Wind and Brexit

Representatives from ten North Sea countries met on 20 June in Denmark to discuss plans on offshore wind, as well as the UK’s potential exit from the European Union.

Energy ministers and other representatives gathered in Esbjerg as part of the North Seas Energy Cooperation to consider the potential of offshore wind and how cooperation can be continued if the UK leaves the EU.

The meeting also focused on the results that have been delivered in the first three years of collaboration, reaffirming the plans for further cooperation and what it should be based on.

According to the Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate, Denmark will secure a mandate to prepare a new work program on the cooperation during the autumn period, which will be based on industry recommendations brought up at the meeting.

Denmark’s government will also seek support for concrete measures that promote offshore wind on market conditions and will propose launching an analysis to help ensure an optimum market framework for supporting the commercial utilization of offshore wind potential as soon as possible, the ministry said.

Formed in 2016, the North Seas Energy Cooperation gathers Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK.

The countries united to further strengthen energy cooperation to improve conditions for the development of offshore wind in order to ensure a sustainable, secure and affordable energy supply in the area.