German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Heidemarie Wiezcorek-Zeul. Photo: Weise

�Only by using renewable energy much more extensively than in the past � and using energy generally a lot more efficiently � can we avoid running out of steam in the future�, said the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Heidemarie Wiezcorek-Zeul on the occasion of the second meeting of the International Steering Committee (ISC). Wieczorek-Zeul welcomed the more than 50 members of the ISC who met in Berlin on 15 - 16 December 2003.

The Minister briefly referred to the expected outcomes of the conference. �Concrete actions for the promotion of renewable energies should be collected within a Portfolio of Action�, she claimed. Those outputs should be complemented by a document outlining Recommendations on Good Policies for Renewable Energies. �Germany is planning to announce substantive commitments and actions in Bonn�, the Minister declared.

Mohamed T. El-Ashry Photo: Weise

The chairs of the ISC introduced Mohamed El-Ashry as facilitator of the conference to the members of the International Steering Committee. Mr El-Ashry is the former chairman of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

Most of the meeting was devoted to a comprehensive discussion of the Draft Conference Issue Paper (CIP). The CIP is supposed to raise the main issues that the conference should address, namely "Policies for market development", "Finance" and "Human Capacity, Institutions and Research & Development (R&D)".

Manfred Konukiewitz (BMZ) with D�rte Foquet (European Renewable Energies Federation) Photo: Weise

On behalf of the conference conveners Manfred Konukiewitz (BMZ) presented to the ISC the intended conference outcome. He proposed

• a Political Declaration,
• a Portfolio of Actions and
• Recommendations on Good Policies for Renewable Energies.

His proposals were followed by a brief presentation by Norbert Gori�en (BMU) on the state of discussion about the conference structure.

The conveners urged those who would like to contribute to the Portfolio of Actions to come forward as soon as possible in order to motivate others. Germany plans to actively approach some of the most relevant actors early and requests others to do likewise.

Members of the International Steering Committee at the dbb forum, Berlin. Photo: Weise

ISC member David Hales � representing the Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future as moderator of the Multi-stakeholder Dialogue (MSD) � gave a brief presentation on the planned Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue.

The second steering committee meeting was considered very fruitful and an important step forward in the preparation of renewables 2004 which was not least due to �the excellent and professional venue�, as one member said enthusiastically.