Mehren, who spoke at the ONS Conference in Norway, said in particular Norway and Russia, as the EU's long-standing reliable energy partners, have a key role to play for Europe’s current and future supply security.
He said Europe needs to be aware of its strengths and must tackle the new political and economic challenges in concert, which he said could be guaranteed, "only through closely collaborating with our neighbors”.
"Both countries are and will remain the decisive energy partners of the European Union," he reiterated.
"Take for example gas. Demand in the EU is rising, but domestic production is declining - which in short means that the import demand is increasing. In 2030, for example, the EU will have to import around 400 billion cubic meters of natural gas," he said.
In order to meet this increasing import demand, Europe needs reliable partners, especially within pipeline distance, he asserted.
"Nord Stream 2, for example, will provide an additional capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas when it is completed. This is natural gas that Europe needs," the Wintershall CEO stressed.
"Without natural gas as the most climate-friendly fossil fuel, the EU could not achieve its climate goals. Europe has the advantage of being able to use its geographical proximity and direct connection to the large energy reserves in Norway and Russia in pipeline distance. Our well-established and reliable partnerships in particular with these two countries are essential for achieving the climate targets. Europe has to play its trump cards," he noted.
(Anadolu Agency)