Location: Larnaca, Cyprus
Date: 2-7 August 2016

“Powering Europe- The Future of EU Energy Strategy ”

The Summer University of the working year 2015/16 was held from 2nd to 7th August 2016 in Larnaca under the theme: “Powering Europe- The Future of EU Energy Strategy ”.

EDS was friendly welcomed in Larnca, Cyprus by its member organisation FPK Protoporia and had the pleasure to speak about the future of energy policy. For this reason, highly valuable speakers had been invited like Solon Kassinis, Managing Director of Kassinis International Consulting and MP for Nicosia, who gave an overview of the energy supply topic and explained the gas utilization in and around Cyprus to the participants. Toula Onoufriou, President of Cyprus Hydrocarbons Company, spoke about managing Hydrocarbon Reserves and opportunities for Regional Cooperation and also gave the participants an insight when it comes to Cyprus and the energy market and the importance of international alliances. Gene Kornegay, Country Manager and Vice President at Noble Energy International Ltd, analysed the different oil and gas fields, which have been discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and explained the role that the countries in the region can play when it comes to the energy security of Europe.
 EDS also went to the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, where the participants visited the Parliament and had the pleasure to hear a speech from Demetris Syllouris, the President of the House of Representatives and they were also offered a tour of the parliament. They also visited the Presidential Palace, where EDS went to hear Andreas Mavroyiannis, Greek-Cypriot negotiator for the solution of the Cyprus problem, who spoke about the current status of the negotiations between Greek-Cypriots and the Turkish-Cypriots. Additionally, Harris Georgiades, Minister of Finance, spoke on the topic of Euroarea’s latest success in Cyprus. During his speech, he explained the situation back in 2013 when Cyprus faced the financial crisis and also spoke about the measures his ministry took in order to put Cyprus back into stable growth. Georgios Lakkotrypis, Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism, talked about the 3rd Licensing Round for the offshore exploration of Blocks 6, 8 and 10 in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone and also touched on topics such as renewable energy and Europe’s energy security.
During the event, the Annual Meeting also took place. That was the highlight of the event due to the fact that a new Executive Bureau was elected. Georgios Chatzigeorgiou was re-elected as Chairman. Silvie Rohr, Alexander O ́Brien, Sophia Skoda and Mitya Atanasov were re-elected as Vice-Chairs. Giacomo Rossetto, Tomasz Kaniecki and Sara Juriks were elected as Vice Chairs. Ivan Burazin was re-appointed Secretary General of EDS. EDS also adopted the White Paper of the #iMEurope Campaign.
Furthermore, four member organisations gained the observer member status, namely the Belarusian Students Network, Youth of Solidarnist Ukraine, Youth Democratic Choice Russia and YEPP Moldova; two organisations gained the affiliate membership status, namely the Youth of the Republican Party Armenia and Lebanese Forces Students Association and one organisation gained the full membership status, namely HCDM Romania.