Zbigniew Brzezinski, Jerzy Buzek and James Jones have become honorary members of Central Europe Energy Partners (CEEP). The organisation has, therefore, gained powerful allies in its campaign to enhance the energy security of the European Union.
CEEP represents the Central European energy sector and energy-intensive industry in international forums. “We bring producers and consumers of energy together, in order to speak in Brussels with ‘one voice’. We can make this voice stronger, due to the knowledge and experience of the Honorary Members, who have joined CEEP to form its Advisory Board. By combining our forces, we stand a real chance of infrastructurally integrating the whole of Europe, diversifying its energy markets, and enhancing our industry’s competitiveness. I am proud to work on making this vision happen with such dedicated experts on strategic security and economic analyses,” declared Paweł Olechnowicz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of CEEP.
Zbigniew Brzezinski is a US-based political scientist and geostrategist who served in the Policy Planning Office of the State Department under President Lyndon B. Johnson, and as the head of the National Security Council for President Jimmy Carter. “Energy security is a key factor in the process of strengthening peace and prosperity in Europe, particularly Central Europe. As an independent industry body, CEEP already plays a central role in assisting the EU in diversifying its energy sources away from an over-dependence upon monopoly oil and gas suppliers. This role needs to be vigorously supported, which is the reason I decided to join the organisation as its honorary member,” Mr. Brzezinski proclaimed.
According to Prof. Jerzy Buzek – Prime Minister of Poland in 1997–2001 and President of the European Parliament in 2009–2012, now chairing the EP’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) – CEEP effectively strengthens the region’s energy security within the framework of a common European policy. “CEEP is an indispensable partner for the European institutions in creating new regulations on raw materials and energy. CEEP members contribute to building a more resilient and more competitive Europe whose growth is based on strong fundamentals: affordable energy sources, well-developed infrastructure, and the free flow of resources in the whole continent,” Prof. Buzek stressed.
Gen. James L. Jones – a former Commander of the US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO in Europe, as well as President Obama’s National Security Advisor – believes that achieving energy security is a key element of national and international security. “Energy is elemental to the prosperity and security of the transatlantic community and touches every geo-strategic issue we face. In these complex times we need to remember that there can be no prosperity without security, and no sustainable global security without prosperity. Energy is instrumental to both. CEEP is a crucial forum for the EU and US to work together in addressing shared strategic energy challenges.” General Jones firmly stated.