IEA Executive Director meets German Chancellor to discuss energy security and industrial competitiveness

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol met with Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany and senior government ministers in Berlin to discuss the implications of the conflict in the Middle East for global energy markets and supply chains, as well as policy options to shelter consumers from the price impacts and support industrial competitiveness.

In their bilateral meeting, Chancellor Merz and Dr Birol covered a wide range of topics, including the effects of the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz on energy supplies and economic activity, as well as the IEA’s work supporting governments in responding to the disruptions. They also spoke about the importance of energy-intensive industries, which play a critical role in multiple sectors linked to economic and national security.

During his visit, Dr Birol also had a bilateral meeting with Germany’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche to discuss the latest developments in oil and gas markets and the IEA’s response to the unfolding energy crisis. And he met with Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Minister Carsten Schneider for a discussion on the energy implications of the Middle East conflict and the prospects for different fuels and technologies.

In Berlin, Dr Birol delivered a speech in the high-level segment of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in the company of Chancellor Merz. In his remarks, Dr Birol spoke about the impacts of the current energy crisis, how potential policy responses could shift the longer-term energy outlook, and the importance of maintaining industrial competitiveness in this context. He also had a bilateral meeting with Türkiye's Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum, the President-Designate of COP31, which will take place in Antalya later this year.