The President of EMEA, Prof. Rym Ayadi, Professor at Bayes Business School, City University of London and Senior CEPS Advisor was one of the speakers on the online event “Green Energy Transition: The Imperative of Equal Partnerships for Stronger EU-Southern Neighbourhood Relations”, which was organised by Bertelsmann Stiftung on 08 May 2024.
Prof Ayadi highlighted: “De-risking investments is about transforming uncertainty into manageable risk scenarios. By leveraging financial guarantees, political insurance, blended finance models to name a few, and the strategic involvement of international financial institutions like the IMF, World Bank, EIB, and EBRD—particularly through the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST)—coupled with stringent requirements on transparency, we turn high-risk ventures into viable opportunities through careful analysis, strategic protection, and continuous adaptation.
She also stressed that “Empowering local communities to actively participate in the green transition is essential for inclusive sustainable development. By integrating education, capacity building, and economic incentives, continuing to invest in green infrastructure and ensuring inclusive policy frameworks, we can enhance social conditions and ensure that the benefits of environmental progress are widely shared not only to benefit a few.”
Fostering equal partnerships in the green energy transition is of critical importance to the European Union, the Southern Neighbourhood in North Africa, and the Middle East. Collaborative efforts are indispensable for achieving regional resilience, ensuring future energy security, and safeguarding the environment. The discussion, moderated by Christian Hanelt, Senior Expert Europe, Neighbourhood and the Middle East, Bertelsmann Stiftung, underlined the importance of equal partnerships for stronger EU-Southern Neighbourhood relations in the green energy transition.
Furthermore, the study “Strengthening EU-Southern Neighbourhood Relations: The Imperative of Equal Partnerships in the Green Energy Transition” was hinted during the event. The study was conducted by Bertelsmann Stiftung in collaboration with the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA).
