6th IEF-EU Energy and Climate Day

The 6th IEF-EU Energy and Climate Day, an exclusive high-level event co-hosted by the International Energy Forum (IEF) and the European Union, in partnership with the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project. The event took place on 28 May 2025 at the IEF Headquarters in the Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh.

This strategic dialogue brought together leading policymakers, energy experts, and industry leaders from the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region to explore joint pathways towards an affordable, secure, and sustainable energy future.

Building on past successes, this edition explored key topics such as green hydrogen, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and decarbonization. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the event aimed to accelerate green investment, enhance policy alignment, and strengthen EU-GCC partnerships.

Participants engaged in two roundtable sessions exploring key drivers of the sustainable energy transition. The first session, Policy and Regulatory Frameworks for a Sustainable Energy Transition, examined how effective policy design and regulatory measures can enable and accelerate the shift to cleaner energy systems. Discussions focussed on creating stable investment environments, promoting innovation, and strengthening collaboration between the EU and GCC regions.

The second session, Unlocking Private Sector Opportunities for Green Energy Investment and Innovation, highlighted the critical role of industry and finance leaders in advancing the energy transition. Participants discussed investment strategies, technology advancements, and cross-regional partnerships, with a particular focus on scaling up clean energy projects, enhancing supply chain resilience, and developing effective financing mechanisms to drive sustainable solutions.

Key Objectives

• Strengthen dialogue between energy producers, consumers, and policymakers.
• Promote the adoption of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and circular economy practices.
• Highlight investment opportunities and innovative business models in the clean energy sector.
• Support international climate action through energy sector decarbonization.
• Foster knowledge sharing and collaboration on energy policy and technology adoption.
• Encourage business partnerships to facilitate trade and investment in sustainable energy solutions.

Discussion Themes

• Policy and regulatory frameworks for a sustainable energy transition.
• Unlocking private sector investment in clean hydrogen, carbon capture (CCUS), and renewables.
• Financing mechanisms to accelerate green energy projects.
• Strengthening EU-GCC business partnerships and market access.
• Innovative energy technologies, including energy storage and smart grids.

Expected Outcomes

• Policy recommendations to support energy transition and clean technology adoption.
• Stronger partnerships between public and private sector stakeholders in the EU and GCC.
• Increased investment and trade opportunities for sustainable energy projects.
• Commitments to innovation in renewable energy, hydrogen, and circular economy practices.
• Knowledge exchange and capacity building to drive future collaboration.

Guest Speakers

Opening Remarks

• 

  Jassim Alshirawi
  Secretary General, IEF

• 

  Christophe Farnaud
  Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Sultanate of Oman, EU

Keynote Addresses

• 

  Tom Howes
  Adviser, Green Transition and Market Regulation, Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission

Session I: Policy & Regulatory Frameworks for a Sustainable Energy Transition

• 

  Riham Elgizy
  CEO, RVCMC

• 

  Ahmed Ali Al-Ebrahim
  CEO, GCC Interconnection Authority

• 

  Raphael Schoentgen
  Founder and CEO, Hydrogen Advisors

• 

  Hans Peter van der Woude
  Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Netherlands

• 

  Princess Noura bint Turki Al-Saud
  Founding Partner, AEON Collective

Session II: Unlocking Private Sector Opportunities for Green Energy Investment & Innovation

• 

  Hesham Tashkandi
  CEO, ACWA Power, Saudi Arabia

• 

  Spyros Kouvelis
  Team Leader, EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project

• 

  Alexander van Veldhoven
  Group Chief Strategy Officer, Bapco Energies, Bahrain

• 

  Kristijonas Gedvilas
  CEO, European Chamber of Commerce, KSA

• 

  Mahdi Al Utaibi
  Head of Renewables Department, Aramco

• 

  Mohammed Al Hajjaj
  CEO, ENGIE, Saudi Arabia

Concluding Session: Pathways to a Collaborative and Sustainable Future

• 

  Christof van Agt Ross
  Director of Dialogue, IEF

• 

  Spyros Kouvelis
  Team Leader, EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project

• 

  Thomas Juergensen
  Minister Counsellor, Head of the Trade Section, EU Delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman

Key Documents

• Draft Agenda

Key Links

• 6th EU-IEF Energy and Climate Day - EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project