Kuwait advances green transition in strategic forum with European Union

Kuwait advances green transition in strategic forum with European Union

EU Ambassador Anne Koistinen delivers a speech at the opening of the Green Transition Forum between the European Union and Kuwait, held in partnership with the EU-GCC Cooperation Project on Green Transition. The forum was attended by the Minister of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy, who delivered a keynote speech. She emphasized the EU's interest in negotiating a bilateral strategic partnership agreement to enhance ties across sectors, including the green transition, and reaffirmed support for Kuwait through knowledge exchange and technical collaboration.

Your Excellency, Dr. Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem, Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honour to be here today at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research to attend the EU-Kuwait Green Transition Forum, as we advance our shared commitment to clean energy and sustainable development. This year, we celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the EU and Kuwait, marking our enduring commitment to a future of continued collaboration, innovation, and shared prosperity for many years to come.

I would like to start by thanking H.E. Dr. Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy for his esteemed patronage of this forum and to the ministry's team for their contribution. I would also like to extend my appreciation to the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project, for organising such an important platform in collaboration with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and the Supreme Energy Committee.

The green transition is an area which the European Union has already achieved significant milestones. In 2025, for the first time, wind and solar combined, generated more electricity than fossil fuels across the EU. Through the European Green Deal and our external cooperation instruments, we have implemented policies that encourage renewable energy deployment, improve energy efficiency, and support innovation in green technologies such as energy storage and green hydrogen. These measures have shown that ambitious climate action can drive economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen energy security.

But we are very clear on one point:
the green transition cannot succeed in isolation.

Kuwait, with its abundant solar potential, stands at a pivotal moment. By aiming for carbon neutrality by 2060 and sourcing 50% of electricity from renewables by 2050, Kuwait can adapt successful European strategies and tailor them to local needs. Opportunities include investing in large-scale solar projects, deploying energy storage systems, developing green hydrogen, and fostering research partnerships between universities, industry, and public institutions. These initiatives can generate new businesses, strengthen the economy, and create sustainable employment.

The green transition also offers an opportunity to empower women, ensuring they play a central role in innovation, leadership, and decision-making across the clean energy sector. Women have certainly played a key role in making today's forum happen and we look forward to hearing their insights in today's panels. It is only natural to see women involved in the debate around green transition as approximately 80 percent of STEM graduates at Kuwait University are women, reflecting an emerging generation of women determined to contribute to the national agenda.

Additionally, the European Union remains committed to supporting Kuwait through knowledge sharing, technology partnerships, and policy advice. We look forward to engaging with Kuwait to negotiate a bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreement, which will further elevate our bilateral relationship and our cooperation across sectors, including green transition. By combining European experience with Kuwait's unique strengths, we can unlock the full environmental, economic, and social potential of the green transition.

I would like to conclude by saying that engineers, innovators, and policymakers here today are the drivers of a sustainable future. By drawing inspiration from past European successes and seizing the opportunities before you, Kuwait can lead a resilient, low-carbon energy transition that delivers partnerships, prosperity, and sustainable economy.

I wish you fruitful discussions and every success in advancing the objectives of this forum.

(Al Rai), (Al-Jarida); (Kuwait Times), (al Qabas); (Al Seyassah); (Al Nahar); (Al Anba)