Ambassador Tove Skarstein at the conferenceTalking Points
Ambassador Tove Skarstein
at the Energy Diversification and Energy Security Round Table
October 5th, 2009
Iztok Hall of the National Assembly
· The energy sector is central to both Bulgaria and Norway, as for the rest of the European countries, and the future of their economies depends very much on decisions our governments take today. We need to take decisions carefully, taking into consideration the future of the coming generations - their social, economic and environmental interests. We need to make these decisions in a transparent way based on long-term strategies, which have been appropriately discussed with engaged stakeholders and where the outcome will be to the benefit of the whole population.
· Norway is a pioneer and shaper of sustainable development in the world. It is also a major player in the global energy area. We have extensive knowledge and experience in the governance of energy based on sustainable development. In terms of governance Norway ranks among the top most transparent and good governance countries in the world, making it a model country of choice for good governance in sustainable development. My country is also the host and a member of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative; the EITI which works for transparency within industries such as mining, oil and gas. In our development cooperation we are assisting a number of countries how to manage the energy income in a transparent way and to ensure a fair distribution.
· In recent years the governance – sustainability nexus is greatly influenced and to a certain degree threathened by the globalization process. At the political level multi-level governance is a challenge, but becomes more and more necessary. At the market level, transnational economic relations play an increasingly important role. Hence, to realize the benefits of today’s global world it is of primary importance that international and European sustainability policies are implemented with good governance (rule of law) at the national level, taking into account local characteristics and conditions. Equally important is the inclusion through public-private partnerships of civil society and businesses.
· As Bulgaria and Norway are partners in the European Economic Area, we have been working actively with local Bulgarian stakeholders to share knowledge and lessons on improving the functioning of the economy and the energy sector in particular. For the past decade we have been working with the Center for the Study of Democracy in sharing experiences and improving good governance in the security sector in Bulgaria. Energy, plays a big role in a country's security and it is only natural that we are now embarking on a challenging but rewarding task to contribute to improving energy sector governance for a more sustainable development of Bulgaria and Norway.
· Bulgaria and Norway will work together to develop knowledge-based strategic approaches to good governance and sustainable energy, adding to European security and prosperity. A key pillar of such strategic approach is transparency and alternative scenarios assessment. The Bulgarian public and its international partners need to know what are the alternative scenarios for reaching the country's energy goals and what would the social, economic and environmental costs be in each of the scenarios. Through the project under the Norwegian Cooperation Programme in the framework of the EEA agreement and its financial mechanisms, the Center for Democratic studies and the Norwegian Research Institute NUPI are running a joint project that aims to improve the governance for sustainable production in the energy sector through three main tools of intervention: research and monitoring, policy advocacy, and public awareness, capacity building and knowledge transfer. The project which will be finalized by 2011 is a contribution to the National Development Strategy.
· Norway is proud to be able to help and assist in working and building up transparency and tools for participatory decision making in the energy sector in Bulgaria.