The European Commission has announced a major push to mobilize private capital for green energy projects across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with Lebanon included for regional stability and clean energy transition. Under the dual banners of the Global Gateway strategy and the Pact for the Mediterranean, the Commission is officially inviting private financial institutions to join the newly formed T-MED Investment Platform.  The initiative, known as the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean Tech Cooperation (T-MED), aims to transform the Southern Neighbourhood—including Lebanon's energy —into a global hub for cost-competitive renewable electricity and green hydrogen.  By leveraging the region’s world-class wind and solar conditions, the EU hopes to drive sustainable growth that benefits both European energy security and local socio-economic development. Commission officials emphasized that these partnerships are built on "equity, mutual respect, and trust," addressing shared challenges like climate change and regional stability.  The T-MED Investment Platform serves as a high-level coordination mechanism. To get the gears turning, DG MENA has issued an official Call for Expressions of Interest, targeting a broad range of European private investors interested in the MENA pipeline, which specifically includes Lebanese renewable infrastructure. Targeted investors include: - Commercial banks and insurance companies. - Infrastructure and pension funds. -Impact investors and other institutional entities.  Selected participants will gain a seat at the table to review the T-MED project pipeline, collaborate with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) on financial structuring, and help design innovative risk-sharing mechanisms (e.g., blended finance and guarantees) to support investments in developing markets like Lebanon.  The Commission clarified that this initial call is a scouting phase to identify qualified partners. Participation does not constitute a formal funding mechanism but allows the EU to assess how private capital can best align with strategic priorities in the Mediterranean. For Lebanon, this means a structured way for European investors to enter the market with the backing of EU coordination.  The EU has provided a comprehensive factsheet outlining the financial instruments available to support these ventures. All applications will be reviewed based on alignment with the initiative’s objective to build a stable, green, and integrated Euro-Mediterranean energy market that bridges Europe with its partners in the Middle East. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: north-africa-middle-east-gulf.ec.europa.eu