Investment in Renewable Energy Sources (RES) is a national priority for Greece, stressed Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, addressing a High Level Energy Conference titled Renewable Energy & Infrastructure Development in Southeastern Europe and the HELIOS Project, held yesterday at the Athens Concert Hall.

"The energy sector gives Greece an opportunity to become a hub for the European Union and third countries," Papademos told the conference emphasising mostly on the Helios Project which represents viable development and will enable Greece to become the largest energy exporter in the EU area.

At the same event, European Commissioner for energy Günther Oettinger talked particularly about the Helios project and the importance of energy for Greek and European growth."Solar Photovoltaic technologies present good prospects in terms of higher efficiency and lower cost. This is why I fully support the Helios project: it makes renewable energy a key area for growth in Greece, while facilitating northern countries' imports of solar energy. It is a good example of EU solidarity and it will impact positively the European market" said Oettinger.

The conference was jointly organized by the European Commission and the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change of the Hellenic Republic.