Israeli Delegation Discusses Cooperation with IRENA on Advancement of Renewable Energy

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 27 November 2015 – A delegation from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Headquarters and met with Mr. Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General of the Agency, on the sidelines of the tenth meeting of the Council of IRENA, which was held in Abu Dhabi on 24-25 November.

“International cooperation to accelerate the global deployment of renewables is key to IRENA’s work,” said Mr. Amin. “The Agency concluded its Headquarters Agreement with the UAE on 3 June 2012 to host its permanent headquarters in Abu Dhabi. This agreement recognised such legal capacity to the Agency as is necessary for the exercise of its functions as an international organisation based in Abu Dhabi, and the fulfilment of its purposes.”

The Headquarters Agreement entered into force in October 2013. Under the agreement, the UAE as Host Country, is responsible for the provision of facilities and services that ensure the proper functioning of the Agency's work. The agreement contains the legal basis governing the hosting of the Agency, including as this relates to its staff members, and missions of its Members.

The Headquarters Agreement grants all IRENA Members the right to establish permanent missions accredited to the Agency, to strengthen the global platform it is creating for cooperation in the field of renewable energy. Israel is a Member of the Agency. Under the Agreement, the work of Member missions is confined to engagement with the Agency in implementation of its Work Programme focused on the uptake of renewable energy, and bears no implication on the relation between the Member of IRENA and the Host Country.

Host countries of international organisations are committed to all agreements and international treaties and conventions that govern the relationship between its membership and the said international organisation, in this case IRENA.

IRENA currently has 144 Members (143 states and the European Union) with more than 30 countries in accession. As a global organisation with the strategic objective to be the global voice for renewable energy, IRENA is open to all states that share the goal to promote the widespread and increased adoption of renewable energy worldwide.