Organised by the Centre for European Policy Studies – CEPS, one of Europe’s most independent and reputable think-tanks, IdeasLab is the most high-profile annual event on policies of the European Union.  The aim of Ideas Lab is to provide a high-level intellectual forum for exchanges concerning the wide range of current and pressing issues faced by the EU. The Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association – EMEA is a partner of CEPS and one of the sponsors of Ideas Lab 2023.

The war in Europe has made the EU’s central mission – to bring peace and prosperity to Europe – more difficult but it is now even more essential than ever before. The war has vividly illustrated the importance of shared values and the enhanced security that common institutions can create. The 2023 edition of IdeasLab “Moving Europe from darkness into light” will examine how well the EU has fared in facing up to the challenges of the last year and will critically examine what has worked and what still needs to be changed. The event will take place in Brussels on 28 February – 01 March 2023.

At IdealsLab 2023 EMEA organises the Prime Talk “The green energy transition in the EU and Africa: is a win-win strategy possible?” on 01 March 2023 – 11:15 CET:

The green energy transition in the EU and the success of the Green Deal will also depend on its ability to inspire and support the green transition and effective climate action around the world. Africa may play a key role in achieving this goal. Up until now, fossil fuels have constituted a large share of exports from Africa to Europe, and the dramatic raise in gas prices has sparked some local politicians to push for new investment in fossil fuels. However, this could turn out to be nothing more than a mirage, both environmentally and economically, putting Africa into a trap of stranded assets. Can Africa, with its abundance of sun and wind, become a major producer of clean energy and step up as a supplier for Europe? What would this entail? How can EU-Africa cooperation add value in managing the transition?

•  Moderator:  Prof. Rym Ayadi , President and Founder of EMEA

Panelists:

• Catherine Collin, Advisor to the acting Managing Director – EIB Global
• Assaad Saab, Senior Advisor, Observatoire Méditerranéen de l’Energie (OME)
• Luca Giansanti, Head of European Government Affairs, Eni
• Marc Sadler, Program Leader, Sustainable Development, World Bank

Furthermore, to mark its 40th anniversary, CEPS organises in cooperation with Bozar, the Centre for Fine Arts, a high-level debate on the Europe we want and the Europe we need with Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-president, Commissioner for Competition, European Commission, Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General, Council of Europe and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus. EMEA team will also participate in that event.