The forum, organised by the Croatian Economy Ministry, is part of Croatia's presidency of the SEECP.
The meeting focuses on Southeast Europe as an energy bridge between the Russian Federation, the Mediterranean, the Caspian Sea and Middle East regions and the European Union.
Opening the forum, Croatian Economy Minister Branko Vukelic said that the development of the energy sector was a key to the economic development of Croatia and Southeast European countries, requiring a stable, diverse and reliable energy system.
European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs said that Southeast Europe should not be only a bridge between energy-rich regions and the developed Western Europe, but a region developing its own energy sector and economy.
Deputy Prime Minister Damir Polancec said that Southeastern Europe was leaving a period of wars, division and economic stagnation, and was becoming increasingly good in articulating its own interests, including those in the energy sector.
Polancec mentioned projects that were being implemented or designed, such as the Ernestinovo-Pecs transmission line, the direct-current transmission line between Croatia and Italy, and activities in the implementation of the Pan-European Oil Pipeline project and the project Liquefied Natural Gas terminal in the northern Adriatic.
The energy forum gathered ministers from SEECP member-countries, countries exporting energy and energy transit countries, and representatives of European and global energy companies and scientific institutions.
The forum focuses on three topics - Europe's energy security, energy projects of SEECP member-countries, and possible investments in the energy industry.
The forum will hear presentations of SEECP energy systems and projects. Later in the day, representatives from Croatia, Italy, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia and EU Commissioner Piebalgs will sign a ministerial declaration on the Pan-European Oil Pipeline.