First Minister Alex Salmond has welcomed Günther Oettinger, European Commissioner for Energy, to Scotland as the EU’s most senior energy official held talks with key government and industry figures in Edinburgh, ahead of further meetings in Aberdeen tomorrow.

Mr Salmond wrote to the Commissioner in April last year, inviting him to Scotland to see the industry first-hand and meet key figures from the energy sectors and government.

Following his meeting with the Commissioner in Edinburgh, the First Minister said: "I am delighted that Commissioner Oettinger accepted the invitation to come to Scotland and is taking time to meet with government and key industry figures across our various energy sectors.

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"As home to a global centre for oil & gas, around a quarter of the EU’s wind and tidal resource, world-leading renewables technologies and about half of Europe’s offshore carbon storage (CCS) capacity, Scotland is a key hub for Europe’s energy industry.

"Commissioner Oettinger and I discussed the EU's climate and energy targets. We agreed that defining a proper climate and energy framework for 2030, including a strong role for renewables, would be essential to stimulate the kind of sustained investment required to fully realise Europe’s huge low carbon potential and modernise the European energy system. Scotland stands ready to play a full and active part in that endeavour."

(GK)