Energy security is increasingly shaped by the interaction between infrastructure resilience, industrial competitiveness and geopolitical dynamics. In an international context marked by growing strategic competition and renewed tensions in key energy regions, the stability and security of global energy routes have become a central concern for governments, industries and international institutions alike.

Recent developments in the Gulf region, alongside broader geopolitical frictions affecting global supply chains and maritime corridors, highlight the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructures and transport routes. Ensuring the reliability of these systems therefore requires not only resilient infrastructure, but also stronger international cooperation and dialogue across regions.
Within this evolving landscape, the Euro-Mediterranean and transatlantic regions are emerging as key axes of global energy connectivity. Strengthening cooperation across these interconnected spaces is essential to support energy security, resilient supply chains and industrial competitiveness.

Against this backdrop, the session “The New Energy Routes: International Cooperation for Energy Security”, organised by the Euro Med network of the World Energy Council, will take place within the framework of the Festival dell’Energia in Lecce, one of Italy’s leading platforms for dialogue on energy transition, innovation and global energy governance. The discussion will explore how international cooperation and infrastructure development can contribute to strengthening energy resilience across these interconnected regions.

The session forms part of the European region’s shared European Resilience Initiative and contributes to the broader dialogue on international energy cooperation in the lead-up to the World Energy Congress 2026 in Riyadh.

AGENDA

Opening Remarks (14:30 – 14:45)
Marco MARGHERI, Chair, WEC Italy
Jean-Bernard LÉVY, Chair, Conseil Français de l’Énergie

Panel I – Industrial competitiveness and energy resilience in Europe (14:45 – 15:15)

• Sofia ALBINI, Chief Legal Office di Zelestra
• Marcello CAPRA, Representative for Italy at the SET Plan Steering Group of the European
  Commission
• Francesco CORVARO, Italy’s Special Envoy for Climate Change
• Gianluca FORMENTI, AD Shell Energy Italia
• Marcin LASKOWSKI, Vice President of the Management Board for Regulatory Affairs at
  PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna

Discussion topics: Supply chains; interconnection stability; technology neutrality and transition resilience

Panel II – Mediterranean and transatlantic perspectives (15:15 – 15:45)

• Angelo FERRANTE, Secretary General MED-TSO
• David LIVINGSTON, Chief Strategy Officer Galvanize
• Marija SAVOVA, Head of Commercial TAP
• Barbara TERENGHI, Chair, Programme Committee World Energy Council
• Francesca ZARRI, President OMC Med Energy

Discussion topics: Trans-Atlantic and Mediterranean energy corridors; infrastructure resilience; international coordination

Closing Remarks (15:45 – 16:00)

Yasir ALTURKI, Senior Advisor, WEC Secretary General of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia*
Key takeaways and pathway towards Riyadh 2027

The session will be moderated by Marco MARGHERI, Chair WEC Italy