1st meeting of US-EU Energy Council held in Washington

The first meeting of a new US-EU Energy Council has been held in Washington.

The meeting aimed to boost mutual cooperation in areas related to energy security, market issues, and development of clean energy solutions. Leaders from both sides expressed optimism for the task at hand.

They hoped that the meeting will be the first of a series of meetings that would substantially improve both the EU and the United States' ability to transition to a clean, sustainable energy economy.

Steven Chu, US Energy Secretary, said, "These transitions are extremely important for our energy security, for our mutual economic development and, of course, for the climate of the world. I am looking very much forward to fruitful discussions today."

Maud Olofsson, Swedish Minister for Enterprise and Energy, said, "I think from the European side we believe that the energy council will strengthen our bilateral ties and by working together we send an important signal to the world that the EU and the US are ready to make things happen when it comes to climate change and we want to deliver things in the energy sector in a concrete and very pragmatic way."